Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre clarified Wednesday that he was against the use of “puberty blockers” in children.
Mr. Poilievre took the stand Wednesday morning on Parliament Hill in the face of a barrage of questions from journalists about gender-affirming medical treatments for trans children.
Hormone blockers, or “puberty blockers,” are used to prevent the body from producing sex hormones that influence the development of the male or female body.
“We should protect children and their ability to make adult decisions when they become adults,” Poilievre said Wednesday. When asked specifically if he opposed the use of puberty blockers in young people of all genders under the age of 18, he answered “yes.”
Conservative Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week her government’s intention to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans children aged 15 and under who have not yet started such treatments.
Liberal charges
This announcement sparked protests in Alberta and Ottawa, and sparked condemnation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who accuses Mme Smith to promote an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.
In this case, Mr. Poilievre has been repeating for several months that he supports the right of parents to raise their children as they wish. He also urges Prime Minister Trudeau not to interfere in provincial decisions regarding schools and hospitals.
On Tuesday, he accused the Prime Minister of attacking families “who are trying to protect their children.” He estimated that Mr. Trudeau “will end up backing down on this.”
Liberal Minister Randy Boissonnault, an openly gay MP who represents a riding in Edmonton, Alberta, stopped by reporters before the party’s weekly caucus meeting Wednesday in Ottawa to ridicule Mr. Poilievre’s position.
Mr. Boissonnault argued that the decision to use puberty blockers should be based on a conversation between a young person and their doctor. “I don’t see “MD” after the name Pierre Poilievre or Danielle Smith,” he said. So it’s none of their business. »
Pressure for months
Since becoming leader, Mr. Poilievre has tried to focus the Conservatives’ efforts on the issues of cost of living and crime, which the party sees as winning messages among the electorate.
Some of his supporters, however, urged him to go further in the debate on how schools address issues of gender diversity and sexual orientation among their students.
At last year’s political convention in Quebec City, activists voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution calling on a future Conservative government to ban “medical or surgical interventions” for trans and gender diverse children.
Mr. Poilievre never clarified whether he agreed with his activist base’s resolution or whether he planned to include it in a future Conservative election platform.