Premier Danielle Smith in Ottawa as Liberals decry Alberta’s ‘draconian’ policies

Liberal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault says he wants a meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to discuss her recent policy announcement on transgender youth.

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 15 and younger who have not already begun those treatments.

That proposal, along with her government’s plan to require that parents be notified if kids under 15 want to go by a different name or pronoun at school, has spurred several days of protest.

Boissonnault, who is openly gay and the only Liberal cabinet minister from Alberta, said Smith is pushing “draconian” measures on some of the province’s most vulnerable youth.

The federal government’s ability to ask for a Supreme Court reference on any use of the notwithstanding clause by provinces is an “important legal tool,” he noted.

“We will be playing very close attention to see what’s in Premier Smith’s legislation, which I hope never makes it to the floor of the (legislature),” Boissonault said.

He said he has invited Smith to sit down and discuss the policy, but had yet to hear back.

Smith said her office is working on scheduling meetings with Liberal ministers and her chief of staff is in touch with Boissonnault’s office.

However, Liberal officials confirmed that they received a message from Smith’s office on Friday politely declining their meeting request.

Asked about Smith’s policy at a news conference Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said: “Let parents raise kids and provinces run schools and hospitals.”

He did not specifically address Smith’s proposals.

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