Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced that within a month, the UCP government will enact legislation aimed at delaying gender transition decisions until adulthood. 

The legislation will also enhance parental involvement in school decisions related to gender issues and protect women’s sports categories for biological females only. 

“While these are sensitive topics, our government believes these measures are in the best interests of children, and we will proceed with these changes without delay,” she stated.

The Premier said the delay before having access to such procedures is needed for youth to fully understand who they are, who they want to be, and what opportunities they want to have as adults, such as having children.

“And anyone who claims that these rules are designed to target or hurt you in any way are mistaken,” she said.

If passed, the legislation would prohibit Albertan doctors from performing gender reassignment surgeries on youth under 18-years-old.

Puberty blockers given for the purpose of gender reassignment would be banned for youth under 16-years-old, while 16 and 17-year-olds would be required to get parental, psychiatrist, and doctor approval.

Related legislation would require teachers and school staff to notify and get consent from parents if a child under the age of 16 requests pronouns that aren’t aligned with their biological sex. Schools would need to inform parents if their 16 or 17-year-old requests such.

Protecting women’s sports

Smith also announced proposed legislation that would ban biological males from competing against women and girls in competitive sporting competitions.

“This will apply to all competitive women’s and girl’s sports and all provincial sporting organizations as well as all our schools and post-secondary competitive sporting divisions,” she said.

The Alberta Premier told reporters over the summer that her party’s legislation was partly inspired from detrans horror stories. Smith spoke of one story in particularly from a young woman name Kiera Bell. Bell is a now-detransitioned woman who sued the UK’s Tavistock Centre for not protecting her from experimental treatment with life-altering outcomes. 

Legislation coming this fall

Smith’s United Conservative Party will propose the related legislation this fall. The legislature resumes on October 28.

Last moth, the Premier announced that the UCP will also be introducing legislation that would amend the Bill of Rights and protect Albertans from medical discrimination such as vaccine passports.