Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and journalists of spreading disinformation by describing the Alberta government’s proposed policies on transgender children in vague terms. Poilievre criticized Trudeau and the media for failing to provide specific examples of policies from Premier Smith that they disagreed with. He accused them of using disinformation to demonize Premier Smith and parents.
According to the Alberta government’s newly announced policies, gender reassignment surgeries will no longer be permitted for those aged 17 and under. Those under 15 will not be allowed to take puberty blockers or hormone therapies, and transgender individuals will be prohibited from participating in female-only sports leagues. Schools will need to obtain parental approval for students aged 15 and under who want to be referred to by different pronouns. Schools must also inform parents about such requests from 16- and 17-year-olds, but those students will not need parental consent for their requests.
During a press conference, Poilievre accused the media of peddling disinformation by failing to describe the policy proposals. He also disputed claims that he muzzled MPs from speaking about the issue. An internal email obtained by The Globe and Mail showed that Mr. Poilievre suggested talking points for his MPs to use if asked about the policies, which focused on parental rights regarding their children.
Prime Minister Trudeau implored the Alberta premier to stand with the Liberals and not to “fight against vulnerable LGBT youth.” Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault criticized the policies, stating that they forced kids out of the closet before they were ready. Mr. Poilievre accused Mr. Trudeau of spreading “hatred” against Muslim and Christian parents, arguing that parents should have the freedom to raise their children.
In 2023, Mr. Trudeau suggested that parents protesting against gender ideology in schools were falling prey to misinformation, and he condemned the hate directed against 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians. Poilievre has not provided a clear position on the issue, choosing to focus on economic proposals and criticizing the prime minister for distracting and dividing Canadians.