Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to introduced transgender legislation this fall. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Premier Smith to introduce bill regarding transgender youths, pronouns in schools

Oct 2, 2024 | 10:31 AM

Premier Danielle Smith confirmed on Wednesday that new rules regulating gender transitioning for youths and the use of pronouns in schools is coming forward in the legislature this fall.

Smith said in a video her government has engaged in “extensive consultations” with parents, educators, healthcare professionals, sporting organizations and members of the transgender community on these topics.

She claims that the province wants to “support and uplift” those who identify as trans or who struggle with gender dysmorphia.

“We believe it’s vitally important to preserve the time you have as a youth to gain sufficient amount of knowledge and experience and perspective so you can fully understand who you are, who you want to be, and what opportunities you may want to have as an adult before making permanent, life-altering decisions related to your body,” Smith said.

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The yet-to-be proposed legislation would enact the following rules:

• Licenced doctors would be prohibited from performing gender reassignment surgeries on people under the age of 18 in Alberta.
• Puberty blockers and hormone therapies for those under 16 will be prohibited, unless treatment has already started.
  • Those aged 16-17 would need parental, psychological and doctor approval in order to access puberty blockers or hormone therapy.
• Parental notification and consent would be required to change a student’s name or gender pronoun at school.
  • For students aged 16-17, parental consent would not be required, but parents would still be notified in advance.
• Parents would need to opt-in for their child to participate in classroom discussions about gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality.
  • Materials and presentations on these topics must be approved by Ministry of Education.
• People who were born biologically male would be prohibited to competing against women or girls in competitive sports.
  • This rule will not apply to recreational or co-ed divisions.
  • The government says it will support the creation of additional recreational and co-ed sporting divisions.

Smith first announced that she would be creating this bill back in February 2024.

Opinions on the matter were divided as some felt these policies were needed.

Others, like Lethbridge Pride Fest, condemned it, saying “These policies, at their core, are insidious, calculated, and only meant to inflict harm on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; predominantly jeopardizing the safety and well-being of trans and 2-spirit youth.”

The 2021 federal census shows that transgender and non-binary people make up around 0.33 per cent of the Canadian population that is aged 15 or older. That included 390 people (0.48 per cent) in Lethbridge.

The premier said in this week’s video that she plans to introduce the bill when the fall session of the legislature begins on Oct. 28.