AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 new proposals on the treatment of transgender youth are the SA国际影视传媒渕ost anti-LGBT of anywhere in the country,SA国际影视传媒� Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.
Speaking at an event in Waterloo, Ont., Trudeau added that if Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants to fight to improve the lives of Canadians, her energy is misplaced.
SA国际影视传媒淚f Premier Smith wants to fight someone, stand with us and fight for Canadians on lower grocery prices, on affordable fuel, on more housing, on fighting climate change,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淔ight with us to defend the rights of vulnerable Canadians. DonSA国际影视传媒檛 fight against vulnerable LGBT youth.SA国际影视传媒�
Smith announced earlier this week her plans to change rules for transgender children in Alberta.
She said the fall sitting of the legislature would bring a ban on gender reassignment surgery for those 17 and under. There would be no puberty blockers or hormone therapies for the purposes of such surgery for anyone 15 and under, unless theySA国际影视传媒檝e already begun such procedures.
Parental consent would be required for students 15 and under who want to change their names or pronouns at school. Students 16 and 17 would not need consent, but their parents would have to be notified.
And the province would clamp down on transgender female athletes competing in womenSA国际影视传媒檚 and girlsSA国际影视传媒� sports.
Smith said the changes are to protect children from the consequences of choices they may later regret. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 also to preserve the role of parents in the lives.
Trudeau had a different assessment.
SA国际影视传媒淒anielle Smith has now moved forward with the most anti-LGBT policies of anywhere in the country,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Trudeau noted SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 announcement came a week after she sat down at a ticketed event to interview far-right American firebrand Tucker Carlson.
A court challenge in Alberta has already been promised from two LGBTQ rights advocacy groups. Rallies opposing the changes are planned for this weekend in Calgary and Edmonton.
The proposals have also been criticized by the Alberta TeachersSA国际影视传媒� Association, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, medical professionals and the provinceSA国际影视传媒檚 NDP Opposition.
The province says the current required age for genital reconstruction surgery is 18 and the required age for surgery on masculinization of the torso is 16.
New Brunswick and Saskatchewan have also enacted policies for young people questioning their gender, bringing in rules that require students 16 and younger to have parental permission to change their names or pronouns at school.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday his government is still in the process of analyzing the proposed changes in Alberta.
He said New Brunswick, Alberta and other places in the world are trying to determine the right amount of parental involvement in a childSA国际影视传媒檚 life.
SA国际影视传媒淟ots of people are trying to find a balance between parents and their children, which is exactly what weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to do SA国际影视传媒� find that balance and, and weSA国际影视传媒檒l continue to pursue that,SA国际影视传媒� said Higgs.
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