The Alberta government has introduced sweeping legislation that advocates warn will greatly impact the lives of trans and gender-diverse people.
Premier Danielle Smith said the measures will preserve choice for children and youth, however the legislation limits access to health care, education and sports for gender diverse people depending on their age.
“I know this is a sensitive issue that is deeply personal to so many, and I’d like to reiterate what I’ve said many times before: we are here to support and uplift every child who identifies as transgender and who experiences gender dysphoria as well as their families, who wants what’s best for them,” Smith said Thursday in Edmonton.
“Childhood is a time of self-discovery, and we want children and youth to have the time to gain experience and explore all opportunities available to them as they grow into adulthood.”
The trio of bills tabled Thursday in the Alberta legislature focusing on transgender people and students using preferred pronouns.
The UCP government has proposed one bill, the Education Amendment Act, 2024, that would require children under 16 to have parental consent if they want to change their names or pronouns at school.
A similar law is on the books in Saskatchewan, where the government invoked the notwithstanding clause, a measure that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years.
The bill would also require parents to opt-in for their children to be taught about sexual orientation and sexual and gender identity at school. The legislation also restricts any kind of curriculum that teaches about gender diversity.
The second bill, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, would prohibit doctors from treating those under 16 seeking transgender treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies. It would also prohibit health professionals from performing sex reassignment surgeries on minors.
The third bill, the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, would ban transgender athletes from competing in leagues not designated co-ed and require school and sports organizations to report eligibility complaints.
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