Transgender and gender-diverse advocates from Alberta and Saskatchewan are calling on the federal government to investigate what they describe as a suspension of Charter rights for transgender people in the two provinces. The group will hold a news conference Monday in Ottawa, calling on the House of Commons to undertake an inquiry into the impact of provincial laws affecting transgender and gender-diverse youth. “In Alberta and Saskatchewan, Transgender residents do not have the same human rights as other Canadians,” says Rowan Venedam, communications director for TransAction Alberta, in a news release. “Transgender people are denied freedom of expression through laws like Alberta’s Bill 27 and Saskatchewan Bill 137. Transgender people are denied the right to healthcare through Alberta’s Bill 26, and Transgender Women and Girls experience sex-based discrimination through Alberta’s Bill 29.” In December 2025, the Alberta government invoked the notwithstanding clause to protect a trio of laws affecting transgender youth and adults from court and constitutional challenges. The first law prohibits doctors from providing treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to those under 16 for purposes of gender reassignment. A second law requires parental consent for children under 16 to change their names or pronouns at school. The government of Saskatchewan passed a similar school pronoun requirement law in 2023 and also invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield it. The third law bans transgender athletes from competing in female amateur sports. “Transgender people need justice and we demand a national inquiry into the suspension of the Charter rights of transgender people in Alberta and Saskatchewan,” said Venedam. The notwithstanding clause is a rarely used constitutional convention that exists to ensure balance between the courts and duly elected governments, Governments can invoke the clause but must renew it every five years. Premier Danielle Smith previously said invoking the notwithstanding clause was necessary because the health of children affected could be jeopardized if challenges to the laws are tied up in court for a long time. She also said by using it in this case, her government was following the wishes of Albertans. “These measures reflect the views of an overwhelming majority of Albertans, and it is our responsibility to make sure that they are not overturned,” she said. “These lawsuits could take years to resolve, including possible appeals to the Supreme Court. These delays are not acceptable to this government when children are in harm’s way.” In a statement, Justice Minister Mickey Amery said the province stands by its approach. “Our UCP government stands behind our legislation that ensures that often irreversible hormone therapy and surgeries to change gender are not available to minors, affirms the role of parents in all decisions involving their children, and preserves fairness and safety in amateur competitive sports for women and girls,” Amery said. “Alberta’s United Conservative government will be unapologetic in our commitment to these principles.”
