Progress, Pushback, and Political Games play out in Parliament
January 19, 2025
Canada loves its reputation as the “nice sibling” in North America’s LGBTQ+ family. But when it comes to trans rights, the reality isn’t as rosy as we’d like to believe. Progress is being made in some corners, yes—but rising anti-trans sentiment and political gamesmanship are casting a long shadow. Here’s how the state of trans rights in Canada is shaping up.
CPC Weaponising “Parental Rights”
The federal Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), led by Pierre Poilievre, are sharpening their knives against trans-affirming policies, draping their arguments in the tired old rhetoric of “parental rights.” Across provincial legislatures, this trope is showing its teeth: Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have rolled out rules requiring parental consent for students to use affirming names or pronouns in schools, regardless of whether it puts those students in danger.
It’s a dog whistle dressed up as policy. These measures claim to protect families but ultimately push vulnerable kids further into isolation—weaponising fear to score political points. It’s cynical, cruel, and dangerous. But as we’ve seen, Poilievre’s Conservatives are more than happy to lean into culture wars if it means rallying their base.
The rising presence of these [transphobic] rallies is an ominous sign. Canada’s veneer of safety for trans people is cracking, and hate is seeping through.
Quebec’s Regression: Liberté in Name Only
Quebec, so often a self-proclaimed bastion of progressivism, has been quietly sliding backwards on trans rights. Premier François Legault’s government has gutted LGBTQ+ educational supports under the guise of “neutrality” in schools, a move that speaks volumes about where the province’s true priorities lie. Worse, they’ve reinstated archaic barriers for trans people seeking ID changes—requiring medical transition steps that many other provinces abandoned years ago.
For a province that touts its devotion to liberté, égalité, fraternité, the hypocrisy is stark. Quebec’s actions remind us that no corner of Canada is immune to the creeping tide of anti-trans policies.
Federal Leadership: A Few Bright Spots
The Trudeau government has offered glimmers of hope in an otherwise troubling landscape. New funding for LGBTQ2S+ organisations prioritises mental health supports for trans youth, an area that has long been underfunded. Meanwhile, the government is making another push to advance Bill C-6, which would outlaw conversion therapy nationwide—a move that’s been stuck in political limbo for years.
Advocacy groups are stepping in where governments fall short. Egale Canada and the Trans PULSE Project are rolling out national campaigns to combat the wave of misinformation around gender-affirming care. Their work underscores that public education is as critical as policy when it comes to fighting transphobia.
Anti-Trans Rallies: Hate Finds Its Voice
While legislative battles rage on, Canada’s streets are becoming contested spaces. Anti-trans rallies, often cloaked as “pro-women” or “pro-children” protests, have gained traction in cities across the country. These gatherings, fuelled by imported rhetoric from trans-exclusionary movements abroad, have sparked fierce counter-protests from queer and allied communities.
The rising presence of these rallies is an ominous sign. Canada’s veneer of safety for trans people is cracking, and hate, emboldened by complacency, is seeping through.
The Path Forward: Action, Not Assumptions
Canadians like to pat themselves on the back for being more progressive than their southern neighbours. But self-congratulation breeds complacency, and complacency allows regressions like these to thrive. From Poilievre’s calculated attacks to Quebec’s quiet rollbacks, the warning signs are clear: Canada isn’t immune to the global rise in anti-trans sentiment.
The response must be just as clear. Advocacy, education, and stronger protections for trans and nonbinary Canadians are non-negotiable. Canada’s reputation as a haven for LGBTQ2S+ rights isn’t a birthright—it’s something we must fight to maintain.
The Takeaway
For trans and nonbinary Canadians, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Their safety, access to care, and legal recognition depend on a government willing to back its words with action. For everyone else, the call is simple: stop assuming Canada is above the fray. The forces of hate are here. It’s time to show them the door. – TML