Trudeau Calls Alberta’s New Child Transition Restrictions ‘Fight Against LGBT Youth’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to members of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, in Montreal on Jan. 16, 2024. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Alberta’s newly announced child transition restrictions amount to a “fight against LGBT youth.”

“If Premier [Danielle] 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,” Mr. Trudeau said to reporters on Feb. 2.

“Fight with us to defend the rights of vulnerable Canadians. Don’t fight against vulnerable LGBT youth.”

Alberta’s recently introduced policies prohibit children—minors aged 17 and under—from undergoing gender transition surgeries. They also prohibit those 15 and under from using puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Additionally, transgender individuals will not be allowed to participate in female-only sports leagues.

The rules, introduced on Jan. 31, mandate that schools must obtain parental approval for students 15 and under who wish to be acknowledged by different pronouns. And schools must inform parents about such requests from 16- and 17-year-olds, although students at those ages do not need parental consent for their request.

The new policies also grant parents increased authority over their children’s exposure to material related to gender identity and sexual education in educational settings.

Ms. Smith’s government has said the rationale is to preserve the choices on such “life-altering and often irreversible adult decisions” for when children grow into adults, and to also allow parents a role when it comes to such sensitive topics in schools.

“Making permanent and irreversible decisions regarding one’s biological sex while still a youth can severely limit that child’s choices in the future,” Ms. Smith said during her announcement of the new policies on Jan. 31.

During his press conference, Mr. Trudeau said LGBT youth are “among the most vulnerable to homelessness” and suicide. He also took a swipe at Ms. Smith’s appearance with American media personality Tucker Carlson last month, a point also raised by his minister for women and gender quality and youth when reacting to Ms. Smith’s new announcements.

“Canadians need to know that the federal government and all Canadians will be there to protect youth,” Mr. Trudeau said.

Ms. Smith responded to reporters’ questions and defended her position on the issue at a Feb. 1 press conference.

“I wanted to make sure that we struck the right balance so that kids are not making irreversible decisions, when they may not be mature enough to make those decisions,” she said.

“I want to make sure that those adult decisions are made as adults.”

Prior to the recent policy announcement by the province, numerous states in the United States had already put in place prohibitions against modifying the bodies of minors. Similarly, certain European nations have imposed limitations on such procedures for children.

Ms. Smith said that the policies are in line with others recently put forward in the Western world and that they are the result of an “ongoing conversation.”

“We’ve been watching internationally as the UK has made policy changes, as well as Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden. ... This has been an ongoing conversation,” she said.