Province could be sued for delisting decision

Calgary CTV, Canada

Province could be sued for delisting decision
Updated: Thu Apr. 09 2009 17:43:55

ctvcalgary.ca

[VIDEO]

[Photo: After Tuesday's budget announcement, Mercedes Allen says she
was told her scheduled sex-change surgery was cancelled.]

Some trans-gender people awaiting surgery are considering legal action
against the province.

On Tuesday, the province announced it would no longer fund sex-change surgery.

The government claims it will continue to fund surgeries approved
before March 31st but some patients are getting a different story.

Prior to Tuesday's budget announcement, Mercedes Allen was scheduled
for an August surgery.

Allen says she was told her procedure is now cancelled. "What we are
hearing when we are inquiring is that 'no, everything is effective
immediately.' There is still some confusion that needs to be
clarified," says Allen.

CTV News contacted Alberta Health to clarify the confusion.

At this point, health officials aren't able to say why patients
approved for surgery are being told their surgeries are cancelled but
they are looking into the issue.

At least 12 Albertans are planning to take their cause to the courts.

"There is a group of us looking to file a class-action lawsuit and I
am in the process of figuring out the paperwork for a human rights
complaint," says Gryphon.

The Ontario government went through a similar battle.

In 1998, that province stopped funding sex change operations. But a
series of human rights complaints prompted the province to reinstate
its funding for the surgeries.

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