“Transgender people are 0.25% of the population, yet governments like the Smith government have a focus on transgender people like they’re a threat to civilization,” Brownsey told PressProgress. “Here she’s simply playing to a very right-wing religious base.”

Sweeping reforms are expected through Bill 22, The Health Statutes Amendment Act. The bill amounts to a restructuring of the Alberta health care system that will break Alberta Health Services up into four parts, each reporting to the health ministry. The new sectors are primary care, acute care, continuing care and mental health and addiction.

“I’m glad we have a Premier that thinks she knows better than the medical community,” Brownsey said. “It’s a bit disturbing that our government doesn’t run on rationality. Instead of what medical doctors say, who actually know what they’re doing, this government just wants to meddle. It’s absolutely bizarre.”

Fae Johnstone, Director of the advocacy group Queer Momentum says the new rules are an example of government overreach. “There’s a hypocrisy underneath this where on one hand Premier Smith says she wants to support the role of parents, then on the other hand she’s putting her government’s decision-making above the parent. The parents might have to leave the province,” Johnstone told PressProgress.

“They’re not targeting the care, but on the trans young folk’s ability to access that care. These interventions are provided in other circumstances and it’s fine, but it’s the fact that the patients happen to be trans that the government is taking an issue with.”