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October 14th, 2015

Mulcair would ensure access to healthcare for transgender Canadians, unlike Harper or Trudeau

“It’s a question of rights and it’s a question of health” – Tom Mulcair

A week after Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau dodged the question and shirked said responsibility, when asked whether he would provide federal leadership on access to healthcare for transgender people, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair was unequivocal.

“Yes,” answered Mulcair. “We’re going to make sure those rights are protected. It’s not a provincial issue any more than abortion is a strictly provincial issue. Once you recognize that it’s a question of rights and it’s a question of health, you have to make sure that it’s accessible, irrespective of the province. And that’s what we’re going to do.”

Answering questions at VICE Meets Mulcair, the NDP Leader highlighted the work done by NDP NP Randall Garrison (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke) to get Bill C-279 passed by the House of Commons. Later blocked by the undemocratic Senate, Bill C-279 would have amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to include gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination.

“It starts by acknowledging that this is a question of rights,” said Mulcair. “And that if you’re denying someone their right to their medical care, in those situations, you might be exposing them to greater harm and greater risk, whether it’s risk to themselves or a risk from the outside.”

Canadians are ready for change and the NDP is ready to make parliament work for them. With just 35 more MPs, Tom Mulcair and the NDP will defeat and replace Stephen Harper’s Conservatives and fix the damage done by Stephen Harper.