Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the Alberta’ government’s proposed policies on gender ideology and parental rights are based on “misinformation.”
Premier Danielle Smith announced a suite of policies Wednesday, which supporters say represent a thoughtful and necessary approach to preserving children’s rights while addressing concerns about irreversible decisions related to biological sex.
In a statement Monday, Notley contended that Smith’s policies go even further than those currently present in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan as she claims they affect the entire 2SLGBTQ+ community and any child benefiting from sex education.
In a video, Smith unveiled a series of policy changes covering youth privacy in schools, sex education, sports, and access to health care. The notable changes include restrictions on hormonal treatment, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgery for children under 17.
“While we anticipated policies and guidelines similar to those in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, Danielle Smith went well beyond those initiatives, expanding her attack to include the whole 2SLGBTQ+ community as well as any child at all who benefits from sex education,” said Notley on Thursday.
“Danielle Smith’s policy represents government interference in what should be a collaborative and private decision between parents, their child, and their doctor. Current practice in Alberta is guided by the rules of the Canadian Medical Association and necessarily includes parents.”
Smith defended the changes in a press conference Thursday doubling down on her commitment to protect children.
“We want to make sure that kids know the consequences that it’s going to have on their life and that they’re mature enough to be able to make those decisions and live with the consequences. And they are adult decisions so we want to make sure that certain decisions are made as adults,” said Smith.
In her initial announcement, Smith justified her policies by expressing apprehensions about irreversible decisions regarding biological sex for youth.
She said that allowing permanent alterations to a child’s biology poses risks to their future choices. Puberty blockers and hormone therapies for gender reassignment will be prohibited for children aged 15 and under, with exceptions for those already undergoing treatment.
For minors aged 16 and 17, hormone therapies will be allowed with explicit approval from parents, physicians, and psychologists, emphasizing the importance of mature decision-making.
