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Gender politics overwhelms Danielle Smith’s economic visit to Ottawa

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The Alberta premier’s recent policies to restrict transgender youth from transitioning put Pierre Poilievre and Doug Ford on the spot

OTTAWA – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith came to Ottawa to talk about economic collaboration, but most of the attention was on her recently announced policies around children’s trans and sex ed issues.

Smith’s presence prompted reporters to press federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre if he supported Alberta’s policy plans. In response, Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of “spreading disinformation” about the Alberta policies to distract from his record on the economy, before saying that the federal government should mind its own business.

“It’s time for Justin Trudeau to stop distracting and dividing Canadians, let parents raise kids and provinces run schools and hospitals. That’s my common sense approach,” said Poilievre.

Smith started off her day in Ottawa meeting Alberta’s Conservative MPs to discuss ways they can continue “to move Alberta and Canada forward together,” and relaunching Alberta’s office in Ottawa to advance the province’s interests at the national level.

She was the guest speaker of a luncheon hosted by the Economic Club of Canada and was to appear at a reception hosted by conservative think tank the Canada Strong and Free Network in the evening.

“We need to highlight the need for a new consensus between Alberta and Canada,” she told the luncheon audience. “Hopefully, all sides can get on the same page and move forward together. That’s not going to happen in just one visit, but it can happen with time and patience.”

But Smith’s message was overwhelmed by the political drama over her trans and sex-ed policies.

Alberta Liberal MP and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said Monday Smith should “reconsider these harmful and dangerous policies” on Monday and called on Albertans to reach out to their UCP MLAs to make sure that this legislation does not see the floor of the legislature in the fall.

“This is Ron de Santis’ ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill coming up north,” he said, referring to the Florida governor’s policies around sex ed for minors.

Boissonnault also slammed Poilievre’s Conservatives for staying mostly silent on the issue after the Globe and Mail revealed that an email was sent to caucus members asking them not to comment publicly on the issue and to notify the leader’s office about all media requests.

“If we let Danielle Smith go this far, what are other jurisdictions going to do? We have to stand up and call this out now,” he said.

Smith unveiled her new policies last week, which include banning transitioning surgery for minors, banning puberty blockers for children under the age of 16, creating biological female-only sports leagues and requiring parental consent to attend sexual education in schools.

 

She also announced a new rule that would oblige schools to notify parents and obtain their consent if a child aged 15 and under wants to change his or her name or pronouns.

While similar policies on parental consent have been announced in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, Alberta’s set of proposed policies would be the most restrictive in the country for transgender, gender-fluid or questioning minors.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he was not considering any similar action.

“We’re leaving everything alone,” he said in a press conference in Toronto, before quickly changing the subject.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Smith said there would be “lots of time for consultation” on her proposed policies in the next few months before the legislation will be tabled this fall but also noted that there is not “a single voice” or “a single perspective” amongst the trans community.

“I want to make sure that young people are not closing off options to themselves prematurely. I want to make sure that processes are followed so that it’s a well-considered decision and that the child is mature enough to understand the consequences of the decisions that they’re making,” she said.

“I will keep on consulting with the transgender community because it’s really important that we give those who do make the transition the support they need in their family environment, and with their medical needs on a lifetime basis. So, we’ll continue to have those conversations,” she added.

Boissonnault met Smith later in the day, but said after the meeting that he was not at all reassured about the upcoming consultations.

“She didn’t commit to meeting with medical professionals who have guidelines and protocols and procedures that have been researched for some time. She did not indicate meeting with teachers or with parents who are affected by this issue. So, I think there’s some work to do,” he said.

By late afternoon, more than 100 protesters were huddled near Ottawa’s John A. Macdonald building, where Smith was to appear for the Canada Strong and Free Network, to send a message that they do not agree with her proposed policies on transgender youth.

“Already, even without this legislation, there are alarming rates of trans and queer youth who are contemplating suicide, who are feeling unsafe at home or in schools,” said Jaisie Walker, executive director of Planned Parenthood Ottawa. “So this is just one of many things that amplifies already alarming systemic rates of suicide and mental health issues.”

Trans activist Fae Johnstone called Smith’s policies “reckless” and said it is “irresponsible” for any government to interfere with the health care that trans children and young people need.

 

“I think this is her trying to play a cynical political game. This isn’t about the issue. This is about social conservatives on the fringes of her right-wing base, and she needs to throw them a bone. And she chose to use trans kids as that bone,” said Johnstone, who is executive director of the Society of Queer Momentum, an LGBTQ2+ advocacy group.

Smith plans to visit Toronto on Tuesday and Washington, D.C. later in the week.

National Post

 

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Saskatchewan NDP set to release full election platform

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Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck is expected to release her full election campaign platform today.

Beck is set to be in Saskatoon this morning.

Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, has a scheduled stop in the village of Kenaston.

The Saskatchewan Party has not yet released its full platform.

Crime was a focus on the campaign trail Thursday, with Moe promising more powers for police and Beck attacking the Saskatchewan Party’s record.

The provincial election is on Oct. 28.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.

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Bloc leader, MPs and farmers call for supply management bill to be passed

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OTTAWA – Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and MPs from several other parties were on Parliament Hill Thursday to call for the Senate to pass a Bloc bill on supply management.

The private member’s bill seeks to protect Canada’s supply management system during international trade negotiations.

The dairy, egg and poultry sectors are all supply managed, a system that regulates production levels, wholesale prices and trade.

Flanked by a large group of people representing supply-managed sectors, Blanchet commended the cross-party support at a time when he said federal institutions are at their most divided.

The Bloc has given the Liberals until Oct. 29 to pass two of its bills — the supply management bill and one that would boost old age security — or it will begin talks with other opposition parties to bring down the minority government.

The Liberals have already signalled they don’t plan to support the Bloc pension legislation, but Liberal ministers have spoken in support of supply management.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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Poilievre supports mandatory drug, psychiatric treatment for kids, prisoners

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OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’s in favour of mandatory, involuntary drug and psychiatric treatment for kids and prisoners who are found to be incapable of making decisions for themselves.

He said earlier this summer he was open to the idea, but needed to study the issue more closely.

His new position on the issue comes after the parents of a 13-year-old girl from B.C. testified at a parliamentary committee about her mental health struggles before her overdose death in an encampment of homeless people in Abbotsford, B.C.

They said their daughter was discharged from care despite their repeated attempts to keep her in treatment.

Poilievre says he’s still researching how mandatory treatment would work in the case of adults.

Compulsory mental health and addictions care is being contemplated or expanded in several provinces as communities struggle to cope with a countrywide overdose crisis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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