Two advocacy groups and five families have been granted an injunction blocking a controversial Alberta bill that bans doctors from providing gender-affirming care to minors.<\/p>\n
In a Friday decision, the Court of King\u2019s Bench granted the temporary injunction against the UCP government\u2019s Bill 26 that would prohibit doctors from treating individuals under 16 who are seeking transgender treatments.<\/p>\n
The judgement from Justice Allison Kuntz says the law raises serious issues that need to be hashed out in court, and the injunction is needed to prevent \u201cirreparable harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision blocks the ban on gender-affirming surgery medical procedures, leaving it up to doctors, patients and parents until the court case is finalized.<\/p>\n
In a statement to CityNews, the province says they intend to defend their position in court and are \u201cconsidering all options.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBill 26 was passed to protect children and youth when making life-altering and potentially irreversible adult decisions about their bodies,\u201d reads the statement.<\/p>\n
The opposition NDP are calling the bill wrong and unconstitutional.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe court has determined what we already knew, that this ban could cause irreparable harm to gender diverse young Albertans,\u201d reads a statement from the opposition NDP. \u201cThis was never about doing the right thing, it was always about demonizing vulnerable kids to boost Danielle Smith\u2019s political fortunes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The law, passed late last year but not fully in effect, would have prevented doctors from providing treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to minors.<\/p>\n