Poilievre slams Trudeau for interfering with Alberta’s ban on child sex changes

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says the Trudeau government should “butt out” of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s new transgender policies and that he opposes puberty blockers for minors.

Poilievre revealed his position over two days of news conferences. Speaking to reporters in Montreal Tuesday, the official opposition leader said Trudeau and his cabinet ministers need to “butt out” of provincial matters.

On Wednesday, after the weekly Conservative caucus meeting, Poilievre extrapolated on his position.

He said “yes” when asked if he opposes puberty blockers for minors.

“I think we should protect children in their ability to make adult decisions when they are adults,” Mr. Poilievre said as he arrived at the caucus meeting.

On Tuesday, Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of creating confusion over Smith’s transgender policies. 

"If you keep it vague and you actually refrain from describing the policies Premier Smith is putting in place, you think you can misrepresent them and misrepresent conservatives," he said.

"This is exactly what Justin Trudeau has done. You notice Trudeau has not given a single example of any of the policies that Premier Smith has brought forward that he individually disagrees with because he doesn't want to be specific about it. He and you want to peddle disinformation in order to demonize Premier Smith and parents," Poilievre continued.

Trudeau and other federal cabinet ministers have claimed they are so distraught over Smith’s policies that they have been consoling trans-youth in Alberta in lengthy telephone calls. 

The prime minister has called Smith’s upcoming legislation as the "most anti-LGBT of anywhere in the country” and blamed American journalist Tucker Carlson for the proposals.

Poilievre said it is Trudeau who is spreading discord in Canada.

"Trudeau has spread hatred against parents," said Poilievre.

"He's accused Muslim parents of being hateful because they were standing up for their kids. He's attacked Christian parents. He has suggested that parents cannot be trusted with their kids. And I disagree with him.”

"No one cares for their kids more than parents. And that's why Justin Trudeau should butt out.

"He should let parents raise kids and let provinces run schools and hospitals."

Smith revealed that under the new rules, anyone under 17 will not be able to access "top and bottom gender reassignment surgeries," and those under 15 years will be prevented from receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapies aimed at interfering with their natural sexual development. Women's sports will also be protected by barring biological males who claim to be females from competing.

The new rules would still permit Albertans aged 16 and 17 to begin hormone therapy, but only with the permission of their parents, a physician, and a psychologist. 

Parents must also approve any name or pronoun change by students under 15 years of age. Students older than that can change their pronouns at school, but must inform their parents of their decision to do so.

Smith made it clear that activist groups coming into the schools with information on gender identity, sexual orientation and human sexuality in gender must first have their material approved by the Alberta Ministry of Education. 

Parents will have the right to decide whether they want their children exposed to this information by opting in – as they would with any field trip – and not being forced to opt-out.