Canadians are broadly sympathetic to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent proposals for transgender youth, according to a new survey.
Leger’s poll – conducted between Feb. 9 and 11 – shows that nearly half (45 per cent) of those surveyed said transgender-related surgeries should be forbidden for under-17s.
Another 30 per cent said they should be permitted with parental consent, while 11 per cent said they would support them without parental consent.
Transgender-related surgeries can include the removal of the penis, testicles, breasts, uterus or ovaries, as well as the construction of a vagina or penis.
Others involve “masculinizing” or “feminizing” parts of the body, including by changing facial bones.
Premier Smith announced last month that she wanted to ban transgender-related surgeries for children aged 17 and under.
She also said she wanted to prevent children 15 and under from obtaining puberty blockers or hormone therapies, unless they’ve already begun such treatments. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre later said he, too, is opposed to children being given puberty blockers.
Smith also said she wanted students 15 and under to obtain parental consent before changing their pronouns at school, and pledged to clamp down on biological males competing with females in sports.
Her proposals sparked a furious response from activist groups, left-wing politicians and others.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Smith’s proposals are “the most anti-LGBT policies of anywhere in the country.”
Liberal Party cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault – who has been one of the fiercest critics of the proposals – said puberty blockers are a matter for a child and their doctor.
The Leger poll found that 42 per cent of respondents opposed giving children 17 and under puberty blockers or hormones, while 26 per cent would support it with parental consent.
Only 11 per cent would support it without parental consent.
A large majority – 68 per cent – said they were opposed to allowing biologically male athletes to compete against females, with only 17 per cent in favour.
The survey also found that a plurality of respondents think Smith’s rules are “clear” and would benefit transgender people “long-term.”
Only 24 per cent said the policies represent “an attack on transgender children.”
The study was based on responses from 2,439 Canadian adults.
