Opinions split on Alberta’s proposed gender identity, education policies: poll
Global News
The poll took a snapshot of Canadians' opinion about the gender identity-related policies proposed by Alberta's premier.
A recent poll asking Albertans about issues related to Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed gender identity and education policies show opinions in the province are split.
Leger, a research and analytics company, self-commissioned the online survey of 1,002 Albertans as part of a larger national survey conducted between Feb. 9 and 12.
Andrew Enns, executive vice president for Leger in central Canada, said one theme stood out for him in the polling: the involvement of parents in decisions around transitioning gender.
“A lot more of the population comes along in a general direction of policies in this area when parents are involved,” Enns said.
Lisa Young, University of Calgary political science professor, said the results didn’t surprise her.
“What we’ve seen in public opinion in Alberta and in the rest of Canada, there’s if not a majority then at least a plurality of people who are surveyed who are not terribly supportive of a very liberal approach to gender-affirming care,” Young said.
When asked about gender reassignment surgeries, 44 per cent of respondents said all such surgeries should be banned for minors. Nearly the same amount of respondents said they could be permitted on a case-by-case basis, with 35 per cent of those polled saying the surgeries should involve parental consent and 10 per cent said parental consent should not be required.
Currently in Canada, no “bottom” surgeries are allowed for patients under 18.
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