Alberta premier to discuss changes to gender policies for children, youth
CBC
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will hold a news conference today about the sweeping and controversial gender policies for children and youth she announced on social media Wednesday.
Smith will speak to media at 1:30 p.m. MT in Calgary.
You can watch it live here.
In a seven-minute video posted to social media Wednesday afternoon, Smith announced that her United Conservative Party government will implement a slate of new policies and guidelines relating to transgender young people and other children and youth.
Among the measures:
Smith's announcement drew immediate condemnation from advocates for transgender youth and the wider LGBTQ community, but the head of a parents'-rights group called Parents for Choice in Education called it "reasonable."
Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teacher's Association, said teachers are primarily concerned about the safety of their most vulnerable students after Smith's announcement.
"We are concerned about the chilling effect placed on classrooms and schools, impacting our ability to provide safe, caring and inclusive spaces for all students," Schilling said.
"We are concerned about how students may feel forced to suppress their identities and to be afraid of reaching out to teachers as an avenue for support."
Rachel Notley, leader of Alberta's Opposition NDP, will speak to reporters about Smith's policy announcement at 11 a.m. MT from Ottawa.
WATCH | Smith announces measures to limit gender-affirming care to transgender youth:
While his party has made a cause célèbre out of its battle with the Speaker, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has periodically waxed poetic about the House of Commons — suggesting that its green upholstery is meant to symbolize the fields of the English countryside where commoners met centuries ago before the signing of the Magna Carta.