Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Implements Strict Policies on Student Gender Identity and Healthcare

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has introduced a series of significant changes to the province’s policies on student gender identity, sports, and healthcare. The new measures require parental consent for any student aged 15 and under who wishes to use a name or pronoun at school different from their assigned birth name. Furthermore, hormonal treatment, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries will now be prohibited for children under 15 years of age. While top and bottom surgery will remain restricted to adults, teenagers aged 16 and 17 will be able to undergo hormone therapy with the consent of their parents, physicians, and psychologists.

In terms of education, teachers in Alberta will be required to obtain approval from the Education Ministry before using any third-party instructional material related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality in their classrooms. Parents will have the option to opt their children into each lesson regarding sex education, sexual orientation, or gender identity, diverging from the current law that only requires a single notification and allows parents to opt out.

One of the notable changes in the policy is the prohibition of transgender women from participating in women’s sports leagues. Premier Smith has indicated that the government will collaboratively work with these leagues to establish co-ed or gender-neutral divisions for sports. The implementation timeline for these policy changes is yet to be determined.

Fae Johnstone, an executive director of Queer Momentum, based in Ontario, expressed concerns over these policies, stating that they go beyond what Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have implemented. Both provinces have either made legislative or policy changes to address issues related to transgender students in schools. Johnstone argues that Alberta’s policies hinder medically necessary healthcare for transgender and gender diverse young people and restrict school inclusion, potentially forcing some individuals to conceal their identities or even face homelessness.

Various organizations, including the Skipping Stone Foundation and Egale Canada, have strongly condemned Premier Smith’s policies, claiming they infringe upon the rights of LGBTQI+ Canadians and pose irreversible harm. As a result, these groups plan to challenge the measures in court, citing constitutional violations.

Not all groups are satisfied with the policies, as some believe they did not go far enough to protect students. John Hilton-O’Brien, the executive director of Parents for Choice in Education, considers the policies to strike a reasonable middle ground between schools and parents but acknowledges the potential for significant protest if tensions are not alleviated.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association, expressed concerns about the potential chilling effect these policies may have on classrooms, affecting the safety, inclusivity, and support for vulnerable students, particularly transgender youth who face significantly higher rates of thoughts and attempts of suicide compared to their peers. He emphasized the need for comprehensive consultation with educators before enacting these policies.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s comprehensive policy changes aim to address gender identity, healthcare, and transgender inclusion in schools. While some groups believe these measures exceed those implemented by other provinces, others argue they fall short of adequately protecting transgender students and may lead to constitutional challenges.