The Legislative Assembly of Alberta has passed three gender identity bills the government introduced. After almost 17 years in the Alberta Legislature, former NDP leader Rachel Notley said she “watched as this legislature sunk to its lowest point ever.”“The UCP (United Conservative Party) voted to breach the Charter and fundamental human rights of transgender young people and their families, to have equal access to healthcare,” tweeted Notley on Tuesday. “Alberta is the only province to act with this much callous cruelty.”.While the three gender identity bills passed, Notley said trans rights are human rights and is clear the Alberta government does not care about either. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she did not believe the government would have to invoke the notwithstanding clause to uphold the gender identity bills. “I think that both the Charter as well as our Bill of Rights has the ability to make decisions and make policy that is convenient, that is reasonable, that is evidence-based,” said Smith. “And I think the decisions we made are all of those things.” The Cass Report demonstrated after four years of research, there is a lack of evidence on gender transitions in minors. Smith said a cautious approach is the one the Alberta government will take. The Legislative Assembly of Alberta voted 47-35 to pass the Health Statutes Amendment Act (HSAA). This vote was split along party lines, with Alberta UCP MLAs voting for the HSAA and NDP ones against it. Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange moved third reading of the HSAA. “Finally, amendments to the Health Professions Act would prohibit regulated health professionals from performing sex reassignment surgeries on minors and would also prohibit regulated health professionals from prescribing hormone replacement therapies, including puberty blockers, to minors for the treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence,” said LaGrange. “Through a ministerial order, we will outline exceptions for when a minor can be prescribed these medications for the treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.” This will include an exception for 16- and 17-year-old minors who have parental, physician, and psychologist approval and an exception for those who have started using these medications to treat their gender dysphoria or incongruence. As research on the risks and benefits of treatments for gender dysphoria in minors is limited, LaGrange said imposing restraints to ensure future choices are preserved before they make permanent, life-altering decisions is important. Alberta NDP MLA Sarah Hoffman (Edmonton-Glenora) referenced a tabling she did about the Canadian Medical Association opposing the HSAA. “It is not every day that all sections within the CMA agree on something, but I will say that the sections that are all present in the Canadian Medical Association believe that what the government is doing here in terms of medicine and in terms of their ability to dictate what types of procedures will be available to some Canadians here in the province of Alberta, the CMA was united in this statement,” said Hoffman.“One of the sentences I’m going to read out is: ‘Canadians have a right to make personal choices about their health with the support of their families, the guidance of licensed, regulated health professionals, and free from political interference.’” To try to make the HSAA less bad, Hoffman said the NDP called the Alberta government on its testimony it believes in parental choice by putting in an amendment that if parents consented with healthcare professionals to allow their children to have gender transitions, it could not block them. Since not one Alberta UCP MLA spoke to the motion and all voted it down, she said it is clear this is not about parental rights. The Legislative Assembly of Alberta voted 47-33 to pass the Education Amendment Act (EAA). This vote was split along party lines, with UCP MLAs voting for the EAA and NDP ones against it. Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides moved third reading of the EAA. “First and foremost, the bill amends the Education Act to change the opt-out element for programs and studies that deal with human sexuality to an opt-in requirement,” said Nicolaides. “Now, again, for clarity and context current practice in Alberta and the current legislation do provide parents with the ability to opt their child out of human sexuality and religion if that’s taught in a school.” In the last few years, Nicolaides said the Alberta government has heard many concerns from parents across the province who have complained about their children being exposed to topics about sexual orientation, gender identity, or human sexuality without their involvement or consent. That is why it was making these amendments. Alberta NDP MLA Amanda Chapman (Calgary-Beddington) said Nicolaides made promises the EAA would enable parents to be more involved and have a larger say in their children’s education. “Now, I’ve read this bill cover to cover, I’ve watched very closely everything the minister has been communicating about the changes this bill makes, and I can confidently say that the idea that this bill will result in parents being more involved or having a larger say in their child’s education really couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Chapman. “When we look at the changes being made to access sexual health information, it is abundantly clear that nothing will change for parents aside from having to fill another form with their school.” In this bill, Chapman said there are no changes compelling school boards to provide more information to have parents become more involved in the process about deciding whether or not their children will opt in or opt out of sex education. Right now, she said the opt-out process works well. The Legislative Assembly of Alberta voted 47-33 to pass the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act (FASISA). This vote was split along party lines, with UCP MLAs voting for FASISA and NDP ones against it. Alberta Tourism and Sport Minister Joseph Schow moved third reading of FASISA. “This bill delivers on our government’s unwavering commitment to creating a fair and safe sport environment in Alberta for young women and girls, and it is to them that I dedicate this speech and this bill because, Mr. Speaker, it is incumbent upon us as a government to create an environment that is fair and safe for all young girls and women who want to compete,” said Schow. “Sports teach you how to overcome challenges, how to strive for your personal best, how to respect your opponents, and that is something that even comes in handy in this house.” The NDP claimed the biological and physiological differences between the sexes have no impact on sport performance. Schow said this claim is false. Alberta Official Opposition Leader Christina Gray said FASISA deserves to be defeated because the NDP has received feedback from multiple experts about the harm it would cause. “The minister was very, very flamboyant in his remarks,” said Gray.“He shamed us, and I have to say: shame on him and shame on the government, Madam Speaker.” Gray said it should be halted because many experts feel this type of legislation makes sports less safe and decreases participation. Meanwhile, she said it will put Alberta out of sync with national and international sporting organizations.The three bills the Alberta government vowed to introduce about gender identity came out in October..UPDATED: Alberta government introduces three bills with gender identity policies .The Alberta government tabled a bill to restrict gender transitions in minors to what it says will preserve choices for them. Since the Alberta government wants to build a healthcare system responding to the changing needs of Albertans, it said the amendments introduced in the HSAA reflect this.
