Trudeau says Premier Smith's new transgender policies target 'vulnerable' youth

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's decision to roll out what he called her «anti LGBT policies» days after sharing the stage with «far-right» U.S. media figure Tucker Carlson.

«It is telling that the week after welcoming far-right American conservative Tucker Carlson to her province [and sitting] with him on stage, Danielle Smith has now moved forward with the most anti-LGBT policies of anywhere in the country,» Trudeau said in Waterloo, Ont. Friday.

Last week, four federal cabinet ministers condemned Smith's decision to meet with former Fox News personality Carlson, citing some of the rhetoric he used while speaking to a Calgary crowd.

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault accused Carlson of «spewing hate speech about LGTBQ people,» referring to Carlson's homophobic joke about Trudeau.

«I know that in Canada it is official policy that coming out of the closet is good — unless you're the prime minister,» Carlson said during his appearance.

Earlier this week, Smith announced sweeping changes to Alberta's student gender identity, sports and surgery policies.

Smith said that puberty blockers will be prohibited for children 15 and younger while minors aged 17 and under will not be able to get top or bottom surgery — although bottom surgery is already limited to adults.

Under the policy, students 15 and younger will need parents' permission to use a different name or pronoun at school. Transgender women will also be banned from competing in women's sports leagues.

:

Trudeau said that LGBT youth in Canada are among those most vulnerable to suicide and parents and governments need to protect them, rather than target them.

«If Premier Smith wants to fight someone, stand up and fight for Canadians on