Poilievre against the use of puberty blockers for trans minors

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OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poillevre says he opposes the use of puberty blockers for transgender minors, saying the children should be able to “make adult decisions when they're adults.”

Polievre made the comments at a news conference on Parliament Hill Wednesday after facing three straight days of questions from reporters about where Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stands on her recently announced policy on trans and sex-related children.

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Smith's proposed policies include banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for children under 15 and reassignment surgery for those under 17 (although currently in Canada, genital or “bottom” surgeries are only available for gender dysphoric patients over 18).

Polievre was cautious in his comments on the matter. So far, she has largely accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of distracting from her record by spreading “false information” about decisions made by provinces and parents.

But after being questioned by reporters on Wednesday, he said that “we must protect the right of parents to make their own decisions about their children” and that “adults should have the freedom to make any decisions about their children.” bodies”.

“I think we have to protect the children. “Let them make adult decisions when they are adults,” he added.

Asked if he was against ending puberty for minors, he said yes.

The Liberals and NDP wasted no time attacking Poillevre's position on puberty blockers.

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“Premier Smith and Pierre Polievre's desire for the government to remove the ability of parents and their vulnerable young people to consult with their doctors and make good decisions for them is based on ideology and not about protecting young people,” Trudeau said. .

Employment Minister and Alberta MP Randy Boissonneau said the use of puberty blockers is a conversation a young person should have with their doctor.
“I don't see 'MD' after Pierre Poilevre or Daniel Smith's name. So it's none of their business,” Boissonno said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the decision “must be based on evidence, based on science, based on best practice and not based on the opinion of Pierre Polievre.”

NDP MP Randall Garrison floated the idea of ​​looking at what options the federal government has to take action against provinces like Alberta under the Canada Health Act, which could deny young Canadians medical treatments like puberty blockers.

But he suggested the federal government withhold health care funding, saying Alberta has yet to pass its own legislation on the matter.

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Polievre's position is in line with members of his party, which at its September meeting overwhelmingly voted to ban “life-changing medical or surgical interventions” on children, as well as treatments that delay puberty and prevent the development of sex-related characteristics.

National Post writer Julia Malott, a trans woman, described the effects of teenage puberty blockers in a recent interview.

“If you're biologically female and don't want to develop hips or have a lower voice, gain height, define your jawline and facial features, you want to be on Lupron, a puberty blocker, and then you want to start on cross-sex hormones,” Malott explained.

“It's too late to do it at 18,” she said, adding that starting the process as an adult reduces the risk of being perceived as the preferred gender.

Poilevre also said provinces would have to make their own decisions on parental consent for sex education classes, which would be mandatory for children to learn about gender identity and sexual orientation, under Smith's proposed policy.

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The Conservative leader accused Trudeau of “trying to divide Canadians and attack parents trying to protect their children” and predicted the position would not change.

“He's going to give up on that, just like he had to give up on the firearms policy in the end. It seems that medical assistance in dying has had to be denied to people suffering from mental illness. “It seems that they are retreating again and again,” he said.

“He is not interested in protecting children. He is interested in using this as a dividing wedge to steer away from doubling the cost of housing and quadrupling the carbon tax on our people.”

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