A judge’s decision last week to temporarily block Alberta’s new law banning gender-affirming care for youth under 16 has sparked a deep and emotional debate, one that centers not just on legal arguments, but on the real lives of vulnerable young people.
Justice Allison Kuntz granted the injunction, warning that halting access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy could inflict “irreparable harm,” including forcing children through irreversible physical changes that don’t align with their identity. “The evidence shows that singling out health care for gender diverse youth will cause irreparable harm,” she wrote.
Premier Danielle Smith countered forcefully during her radio show on June 28, stating, “I feel there will be irreparable harm to children who get sterilized at the age of 10; we want those kids to have their day in court.” She emphasized the government’s strategy as a precaution: preserving fertility until adulthood and cautioning against premature “life-altering decisions.” The Premier described her approach as “solid, measured, evidence-based—and on the side of kids.”
Behind the courtroom rhetoric are dozens of health-care professionals and families urging Alberta to reconsider. Doctors explain that puberty blockers, used since the 1980s, even for cisgender children, are reversible and often life-saving. Studies show they reduce long-term mental health risks when started at ages 14–15.
Trans youth advocacy groups agree. Bennett Jensen of Egale Canada, which helped initiate the court challenge alongside the Skipping Stone Foundation, said the injunction provides “huge relief” for the five youth (ages 6–11) named in the case.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi celebrated the court’s decision as “a great day for young Albertans who simply want to live authentically and safely,” calling the law “demonizing vulnerable kids”.
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland called the policy “deeply disturbing,” warning it risks children’s safety and urged dialogue with Alberta’s government.
Alberta’s legislation, first introduced in late 2024, was part of a larger package also affecting school pronouns and trans inclusion in sports. It passed the legislature in December but awaited full proclamation.
The legal battle now moves upward. The court injunction offers temporary protection, but the core question of whether provincial governments can bar access to gender-affirming care without violating the Charter of Rights will be decided by a higher court.
Justice Allison Kuntz granted the injunction, warning that halting access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy could inflict “irreparable harm,” including forcing children through irreversible physical changes that don’t align with their identity. “The evidence shows that singling out health care for gender diverse youth will cause irreparable harm,” she wrote.
Premier Danielle Smith countered forcefully during her radio show on June 28, stating, “I feel there will be irreparable harm to children who get sterilized at the age of 10; we want those kids to have their day in court.” She emphasized the government’s strategy as a precaution: preserving fertility until adulthood and cautioning against premature “life-altering decisions.” The Premier described her approach as “solid, measured, evidence-based—and on the side of kids.”
Behind the courtroom rhetoric are dozens of health-care professionals and families urging Alberta to reconsider. Doctors explain that puberty blockers, used since the 1980s, even for cisgender children, are reversible and often life-saving. Studies show they reduce long-term mental health risks when started at ages 14–15.
Trans youth advocacy groups agree. Bennett Jensen of Egale Canada, which helped initiate the court challenge alongside the Skipping Stone Foundation, said the injunction provides “huge relief” for the five youth (ages 6–11) named in the case.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi celebrated the court’s decision as “a great day for young Albertans who simply want to live authentically and safely,” calling the law “demonizing vulnerable kids”.
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland called the policy “deeply disturbing,” warning it risks children’s safety and urged dialogue with Alberta’s government.
Why this matters
Alberta’s legislation, first introduced in late 2024, was part of a larger package also affecting school pronouns and trans inclusion in sports. It passed the legislature in December but awaited full proclamation.
The legal battle now moves upward. The court injunction offers temporary protection, but the core question of whether provincial governments can bar access to gender-affirming care without violating the Charter of Rights will be decided by a higher court.
