Politics
Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani said Thursday he has serious reservations about a suite of measures Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is about to introduce to curb access to certain transgender health services for kids and ban gender-diverse people from some sporting events.
Smith is set to ban certain procedures for kids, ban trans athletes from some sports events
John Paul Tasker · CBC News
· Posted: Feb 01, 2024 12:32 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani talks to media in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani said Thursday he has serious reservations about a suite of measures Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is about to introduce to curb access to certain transgender health services for kids and ban gender-diverse people from some sporting events.
Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill, Virani said Smith’s promised measures amount to “targeting and demonizing” trans children.
“I have significant concerns about that,” he said.
Asked if he plans to pursue a legal challenge, Virani pointed out that the province hasn’t enacted the measures yet.
Health Minister Mark Holland said he’s “deeply disturbed” by the province’s plan, which he said will put children at risk.
“We know that the number one reason why kids take their life is problems around sexuality identity,” Holland said.
A spokesperson for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre did not immediately respond when asked whether the federal party backs what Smith is doing in Alberta.
A majority of Conservative Party delegates at a recent policy convention endorsed adding similar measures to their policy book.
Most of the federal Tories (69 per cent) at the Quebec City meeting agreed that young people should be barred from gender-affirming care.
Delegates also supported a policy that calls for single-sex spaces that are open only to women, along with other trans-related initiatives that have been called discriminatory by some.
The Liberals’ reaction comes a day after Smith took to social media to announce her plan to “preserve for our children the right to grow and develop into mature adults” and block them from making “permanent and irreversible decisions regarding one’s biological sex.”
WATCH: Alberta to put limits on gender-affirming care for trans youth
Alberta to put limits on gender-affirming care for trans youthAlberta Premier Danielle Smith announced policy changes that would put minimum legal age limits on surgeries and hormone therapies for transgender youth. It will also require parental notification — and permission, depending on the student’s age — if a student wants to change their name or pronoun at school.
The proposed policies include banning so-called “top” and “bottom” surgeries for minors aged 17 and under and restricting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children 15 and under.
The sorts of surgeries Smith is promising to ban are rarely available to children in Canada.
According to the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH)’s standards of care — which is followed by clinics like Montreal’s GrS, where many such surgeries are performed — a person must reach the age of majority (18 in most provinces) before being allowed to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Some exceptions are made for top surgery (mastectomy) for kids 16 and over.
Puberty blockers, which can have long-term, irreversible effects, are sometimes prescribed for younger children after consulting with a doctor.
In introducing her government’s new policies, Premier Danielle Smith assured Albertans she cares ‘deeply’ about the gender diverse. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Smith said teachers will need to get third-party instruction material on gender identity, sexual orientation and human sexuality approved by the province before using them in the classroom, and parents will have to opt students into every classroom discussion of sex education, sexual orientation or gender identity. Parents are allowed to opt out of such classroom discussions now.
Minors age 15 and under will also need parental consent to change the names and pronouns they use at school.
Kids aged 16 and 17 will need to notify their parents of such a change, but they don’t need their consent to use the names or pronouns they choose.
The new policy also bans transgender women from competing in women’s sports leagues. Smith suggested these trans athletes could instead be accommodated in “coed” or “gender neutral” sports divisions.
“The risks and unfair advantages that young women and girls are experiencing when competing with biologically stronger transgender females in sporting competitions have also grown too high,” Smith said in a seven-minute video announcing the proposed policy changes.
Holland claims Smith is ‘playing politics’ with kids’ livesWhile the new policies would restrict what transgender children can do, Smith said she cares “deeply” about the gender diverse and supports the right of adults to pursue transgender care.
“I will ensure you are supported and your rights are protected,” she said.
WATCH: Alberta policy on gender identity ‘places kids at risk,’ says federal health minister
Alberta policy on gender identity ‘places kids at risk,’ says federal health ministerFederal Health Minister Mark Holland says he’s ‘deeply disturbed’ by changes to gender-affirming care for youth announced by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
She also vowed to recruit at least one medical professional who specializes in transgender surgery to practice in Alberta so people don’t have to travel to other jurisdictions like Quebec.
Holland said Smith’s moves are “extremely dangerous” and accused her of “playing politics with children’s lives.”
“Affirming gender care, making sure kids and families have the health care they need on extremely sensitive issues is extremely important,” he said. He also vowed to raise Ottawa’s concerns with Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange when he’s next in the province.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.P. Tasker is a journalist in CBC’s parliamentary bureau who reports for digital, radio and television. He is also a regular panellist on CBC News Network’s Power & Politics. He covers the Conservative Party, Canada-U.S. relations, Crown-Indigenous affairs, climate change, health policy and the Senate. You can send story ideas and tips to J.P. at john.tasker@cbc.ca.
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