FORT McMURRAY — Wood Buffalo Pride says Alberta’s Bill 9 represents the most sweeping removal of rights for transgender people in Canadian history, warning the legislation will strip away Charter protections for thousands of vulnerable youth.
In a statement released this week, the organization says the province’s use of the notwithstanding clause to shield Bills 26, 27 and 29 from legal challenges amounts to an admission the measures violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bill 9 passed first reading on Tuesday and the government is expected to fast track it through the legislature.
Bill 9 Statement
The group says the legislation will immediately dissolve the court injunction blocking Bill 26, which bans gender affirming care for youth under 16. A judge granted the injunction in June based on expert evidence that the law would cause irreparable harm by reinforcing discrimination against gender diverse youth.
Bill 27, which requires teachers to inform parents when a student under 16 wants to change their name or pronouns at school, is also facing a Charter challenge that would be halted by Bill 9. Bill 29, which bans transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports, has not yet been tested in court, but Wood Buffalo Pride says the government is moving pre emptively to block any future legal action.
The group argues the three bills rest on misinformation and will worsen outcomes for already at risk youth. It notes gender affirming surgeries for minors are not performed in Alberta, puberty blockers are reversible and most effective before age 14, and studies show safe schools, supportive adults and access to recreation reduce mental health risks.
Executive director Mitchell Bowers says the government’s framing of the legislation as a protection for parents misrepresents the reality facing transgender youth. “If you are a parent and you support this legislation because you don’t want your child to hide themselves from you, know that this legislation will not make them open up,” Bowers said. “It is your duty as a parent to create a safe environment for them to live and thrive in. This legislation does not protect parental choice, it removes it.”
Wood Buffalo Pride says the timing of Bill 9 adds to the harm, with the government advancing the bill during Transgender Awareness Week and scheduling a vote for the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The group is urging residents to contact their MLAs, attend local events, support transgender people in their lives and share reliable information. It is also hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance gathering on Wednesday, along with a letter writing workshop encouraging residents to speak out.
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