Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Monday defended her new set of policies for transgender youth in her province against accusations from the federal Liberals that she is pushing an “anti-LGBTQ” agenda.
Smith was in Ottawa on Monday after announcing last week that her United Conservative Party government would ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children aged 15 and under who have not yet started these treatments.
His government also plans to require parents to give consent for children aged 15 and under to have a different name or pronoun at school. Teenagers aged 16 and 17 could make such changes without permission, but schools would have to inform their parents.
At the grand opening of a new Alberta office in Ottawa on Monday, Smith defended the proposals as part of the “thoughtful approach” she wants to take when it comes to children with gender identities. of various genders.
The goal, she said, is to ensure children are “fully informed” about the decisions they make in case they might regret them later in life.
Earlier Monday morning, federal Liberal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said he had requested a meeting with Ms. Smith to discuss the proposed changes.
Mr. Boissonnault, who is openly gay and the only Liberal minister from Alberta, believes that the Prime Minister is imposing “draconian” measures on some of the most vulnerable young people in the province.
After some exchanges between their respective offices — and a snowstorm in Atlantic Canada that delayed Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc — Mr. Boissonnault intervened and met with the Prime Minister, alongside Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.
Alberta’s controversial plan to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan was among the issues discussed, Liberal ministers said.
Mr. Boissonnault said he had not received assurance that Ms. Smith intended to budge on the proposed gender identity policies. He said he encouraged her to consult more medical professionals and teachers before moving forward.
Exemption provision
The ability of the federal government to request a referral to the Supreme Court on any recourse to the notwithstanding provision by a province constitutes an “important legal tool,” underlined Mr. Boissonnault.
“We will be paying close attention to the content of Premier Smith’s bill, which I hope will never come before the Legislative Assembly,” he said.
Asked Monday morning about Ms. Smith’s policy during a press conference, federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre repeated his position on the subject: “Let parents raise their children and let the provinces manage schools and hospitals.” “.
He did not specifically address Smith’s proposals and his response comes after his office last week asked Conservative MPs to “refrain” from making any comments on Alberta’s specific measures.
In Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated that his government would not follow Alberta in restricting the availability of surgeries and treatments for transgender youth.
Meanwhile, activists in Ottawa staged a hasty protest downtown later Monday upon learning of Ms. Smith’s visit to the capital.
Ms. Smith also delivered a speech Monday noon in Ottawa to members of the Economic Club of Canada.