Hamilton Trans Health Coalition
@hamtranshealth.bsky.social
hthc.ca • linktr.ee/hthc
Action steps:
1) Sign a petition to Alberta’s government: www.stop-smith.ca
2) Learn about the notwithstanding clause: egale.ca/awareness/egale-explains-notwithstanding-clause/
3) Learn about anti-trans laws and gender-affirming care in Alberta: hthc.ca/whats-happening-in-alberta-2-0/
1) Sign a petition to Alberta’s government: www.stop-smith.ca
2) Learn about the notwithstanding clause: egale.ca/awareness/egale-explains-notwithstanding-clause/
3) Learn about anti-trans laws and gender-affirming care in Alberta: hthc.ca/whats-happening-in-alberta-2-0/
Egale Explains: The Notwithstanding Clause - Egale Canada
The following information was last updated: November 3, 2025 More governments across the country are turning to the notwithstanding clause – a powerful tool that can limit certain Charter rights. Cana...
egale.ca
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Action steps:
1) Sign a petition to Alberta’s government: www.stop-smith.ca
2) Learn about the notwithstanding clause: egale.ca/awareness/egale-explains-notwithstanding-clause/
3) Learn about anti-trans laws and gender-affirming care in Alberta: hthc.ca/whats-happening-in-alberta-2-0/
1) Sign a petition to Alberta’s government: www.stop-smith.ca
2) Learn about the notwithstanding clause: egale.ca/awareness/egale-explains-notwithstanding-clause/
3) Learn about anti-trans laws and gender-affirming care in Alberta: hthc.ca/whats-happening-in-alberta-2-0/
The notwithstanding clause has been used to target religious minorities in Quebec, striking workers in Ontario and Alberta, and trans youth in Saskatchewan. We are all less safe when politicians can willfully infringe on the fundamental rights protected in the Charter.
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The notwithstanding clause has been used to target religious minorities in Quebec, striking workers in Ontario and Alberta, and trans youth in Saskatchewan. We are all less safe when politicians can willfully infringe on the fundamental rights protected in the Charter.
There are not words to describe how egregious it is for a government to use the notwithstanding clause to force through a gender-affirming care ban for trans youth.
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
There are not words to describe how egregious it is for a government to use the notwithstanding clause to force through a gender-affirming care ban for trans youth.
Alberta’s government is intentionally legislating away the rights of trans and gender diverse youth in Alberta, and removing the ability of the courts to stop them.
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Alberta’s government is intentionally legislating away the rights of trans and gender diverse youth in Alberta, and removing the ability of the courts to stop them.
Two days ago, Alberta’s government introduced a bill that would amend their three anti-trans laws to include the notwithstanding clause. This clause allows their anti-trans laws to operate notwithstanding violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Two days ago, Alberta’s government introduced a bill that would amend their three anti-trans laws to include the notwithstanding clause. This clause allows their anti-trans laws to operate notwithstanding violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
This year on TDOR, we are sending our grief, love, and rage to trans youth, their families, their healthcare providers, and their wider trans community in Alberta.
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
This year on TDOR, we are sending our grief, love, and rage to trans youth, their families, their healthcare providers, and their wider trans community in Alberta.
TDOR was started by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in memory of Rita Hester, a trans woman whose murder remains unsolved to this day.
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
TDOR was started by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in memory of Rita Hester, a trans woman whose murder remains unsolved to this day.
For links to resources that contain more information and where to find your MPP/MP’s contact information, see the full version of this statement: hthc.ca/whats-happen...
What’s Happening in Alberta? (2.0) – Hamilton Trans Health Coalition
hamiltontranshealth.ca
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
For links to resources that contain more information and where to find your MPP/MP’s contact information, see the full version of this statement: hthc.ca/whats-happen...
Tell them that healthcare decisions should be made by patients and providers, not politicians.
Send two emails or make two phone calls in support of trans youth and everyone’s right to access healthcare.
Send two emails or make two phone calls in support of trans youth and everyone’s right to access healthcare.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Tell them that healthcare decisions should be made by patients and providers, not politicians.
Send two emails or make two phone calls in support of trans youth and everyone’s right to access healthcare.
Send two emails or make two phone calls in support of trans youth and everyone’s right to access healthcare.
Tell them you are opposed to the use of the notwithstanding clause and that you are outraged that Alberta is considering this for a gender-affirming care ban. Ask them to commit to not using the notwithstanding clause to evade Charter protections.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Tell them you are opposed to the use of the notwithstanding clause and that you are outraged that Alberta is considering this for a gender-affirming care ban. Ask them to commit to not using the notwithstanding clause to evade Charter protections.
What do we do?
Even if Alberta goes ahead with this, politicians across the country need to hear that we fully and utterly reject this.
Contact both your provincial MPP and your federal MP.
Even if Alberta goes ahead with this, politicians across the country need to hear that we fully and utterly reject this.
Contact both your provincial MPP and your federal MP.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
What do we do?
Even if Alberta goes ahead with this, politicians across the country need to hear that we fully and utterly reject this.
Contact both your provincial MPP and your federal MP.
Even if Alberta goes ahead with this, politicians across the country need to hear that we fully and utterly reject this.
Contact both your provincial MPP and your federal MP.
Additionally, the Premier has stated that there will be exemptions, including a grandfather clause for youth already accessing medications. Trans youth in Alberta should speak with their affirming healthcare providers.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Additionally, the Premier has stated that there will be exemptions, including a grandfather clause for youth already accessing medications. Trans youth in Alberta should speak with their affirming healthcare providers.
What are the implications in Alberta?
This post is intended to educate people in Ontario about what is happening in Alberta and why it should matter to everyone. People in Alberta can follow Egale and Skipping Stone for up-to-date information on potential changing healthcare access.
This post is intended to educate people in Ontario about what is happening in Alberta and why it should matter to everyone. People in Alberta can follow Egale and Skipping Stone for up-to-date information on potential changing healthcare access.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
What are the implications in Alberta?
This post is intended to educate people in Ontario about what is happening in Alberta and why it should matter to everyone. People in Alberta can follow Egale and Skipping Stone for up-to-date information on potential changing healthcare access.
This post is intended to educate people in Ontario about what is happening in Alberta and why it should matter to everyone. People in Alberta can follow Egale and Skipping Stone for up-to-date information on potential changing healthcare access.
This means that puberty blockers and hormones could be banned for trans youth in Alberta in the next few months.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This means that puberty blockers and hormones could be banned for trans youth in Alberta in the next few months.
Wait, what does that mean?
If Alberta amends their care ban to include this clause when their legislature is in session this fall, they can override the injunction and force the medication ban to take effect.
If Alberta amends their care ban to include this clause when their legislature is in session this fall, they can override the injunction and force the medication ban to take effect.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Wait, what does that mean?
If Alberta amends their care ban to include this clause when their legislature is in session this fall, they can override the injunction and force the medication ban to take effect.
If Alberta amends their care ban to include this clause when their legislature is in session this fall, they can override the injunction and force the medication ban to take effect.
The notwithstanding clause is a section from the Charter that allows governments to pass legislation that overrides certain Charter rights. A law passed with this clause cannot be struck down by a court for infringing on Charter rights. The law operates notwithstanding Charter violations.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The notwithstanding clause is a section from the Charter that allows governments to pass legislation that overrides certain Charter rights. A law passed with this clause cannot be struck down by a court for infringing on Charter rights. The law operates notwithstanding Charter violations.
What happened last month?
A leaked memo indicated that the Alberta government had potential plans to use the notwithstanding clause for all three of their anti-trans laws.
A leaked memo indicated that the Alberta government had potential plans to use the notwithstanding clause for all three of their anti-trans laws.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
What happened last month?
A leaked memo indicated that the Alberta government had potential plans to use the notwithstanding clause for all three of their anti-trans laws.
A leaked memo indicated that the Alberta government had potential plans to use the notwithstanding clause for all three of their anti-trans laws.
This meant that trans youth could continue accessing blockers and hormones for the duration of the ongoing Charter challenge against the law. The goal of the challenge is to strike down the law.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This meant that trans youth could continue accessing blockers and hormones for the duration of the ongoing Charter challenge against the law. The goal of the challenge is to strike down the law.
The first lawsuit won an injunction against the medication ban. On the basis of expert evidence, the judge found:
“The evidence shows that the Ban will cause irreparable harm by causing gender diverse youth to experience permanent changes to their body that do not align with their gender identity”
“The evidence shows that the Ban will cause irreparable harm by causing gender diverse youth to experience permanent changes to their body that do not align with their gender identity”
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The first lawsuit won an injunction against the medication ban. On the basis of expert evidence, the judge found:
“The evidence shows that the Ban will cause irreparable harm by causing gender diverse youth to experience permanent changes to their body that do not align with their gender identity”
“The evidence shows that the Ban will cause irreparable harm by causing gender diverse youth to experience permanent changes to their body that do not align with their gender identity”
Two Charter challenges were launched against the law. One from non-profits alongside trans youth, and one from the Canadian Medical Association on behalf of healthcare providers in Alberta.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Two Charter challenges were launched against the law. One from non-profits alongside trans youth, and one from the Canadian Medical Association on behalf of healthcare providers in Alberta.
Under this law, these surgeries and medications remain completely legal and available to cisgender youth. The ban applies solely when the surgery or medication is used to affirm a trans youth’s gender.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Under this law, these surgeries and medications remain completely legal and available to cisgender youth. The ban applies solely when the surgery or medication is used to affirm a trans youth’s gender.
The ban on medications did not come into effect right away. The law itself bans puberty blockers and hormones for all trans youth under 18. The Premier has publicly committed to some medication ban exemptions via future regulations.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The ban on medications did not come into effect right away. The law itself bans puberty blockers and hormones for all trans youth under 18. The Premier has publicly committed to some medication ban exemptions via future regulations.
In the fall of 2024, Alberta passed three anti-trans laws. These laws restricted the rights and freedoms of trans and gender diverse people in Alberta in school, sports, and healthcare. The healthcare law immediately banned gender-affirming surgery for trans and gender diverse youth under 18.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
In the fall of 2024, Alberta passed three anti-trans laws. These laws restricted the rights and freedoms of trans and gender diverse people in Alberta in school, sports, and healthcare. The healthcare law immediately banned gender-affirming surgery for trans and gender diverse youth under 18.