To Whom It May Concern:

> To Whom It May Concern:
>
> Article 3 of the Canada Health Act states:
> "It is hereby declared that the primary objective of Canadian health care policy is to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers."
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> By removing Sex Reassignment Surgery from the list of medical services covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, it sends a message that "other barriers" may not include that of sexual discrimination.
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> The recent announcement that Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) will be "delisted" under the provincial health care insurance plan brings questions of equity and basic human rights to the minds of many. As much of the world, and certainly Canada as a nation moves closer to understanding the need for equality - Alberta continues to regard sexual minorities as marginal, or even "unworthy" of consideration as equals.
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> The facts are simple; According to the Canadian Psychiatric Association, in agreement with their American counterparts - Gender Identity Disorder is a recognized biological disorder. Much like someone born with Cerebral Palsy or Down Syndrome.
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> This disorder profoundly effects the lives of thousands of Albertans. Some studies suggest that as many as one out of every five hundred individuals could be afflicted to some degree. Along with the obvious impact this may have on friends and family, there are other implications that (too often) go un-mentioned. 51% of transgendered persons attempt suicide. That fact alone should be reason for the concern of our elected officials. With recent media attention to same sex marriage both in Canada and other countries, the stage has been set for increased understanding of sexual minorities. This (in turn) provides a greater understanding of those who would otherwise remain silent as they suffer the ignorance of those who continue to view gender incongruence as a simple "cosmetic fix" in response to a chosen lifestyle. Transgenderism (Gender Identity Disorder) is NOT a choice. Yet here in Alberta, again we hear of the inequity and obvious lack of education that inevitably may lead to yet another senseless act of discrimination against an entire group of people. A group of people; which already faces the daily humiliation of knowing that they do not fall within the protection of sexual discrimination laws. Yet another way our law and policy makers tend to marginalize those who need our compassion and understanding.
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> When someone in our province becomes injured or ill, a doctor evaluates the severity and immediacy of the condition. Likely this can mean a 10 minute examination which ends in treatment and/or prescribed medication to accommodate recovery. Regardless of the nature of the illness, once the medical profession deems the treatment "necessary" for the health and well-being of the patient, he/she receives that treatment at little or no cost under the terms of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.
> People born with Gender Identity Disorder must undergo an extensive regime of mental and physical evaluations and scrutiny to determine their condition. They must be willing to demonstrate the NEED for gender reassignment. Once they demonstrate that need, they must further demonstrate that they are mentally fit, and able to deal with everything that is to come. A process which many do NOT complete successfully. The point here, is that while some procedures which 'Alberta Health" funds willingly require little more than a 10 minute meeting with a Doctor they may never have met before, others spend months and years qualifying for and preparing themselves for. To suggest that such a profound change in someone's well being is as trivial as a "cosmetic procedure" is truly without merit.
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> SRS has been delisted in Alberta, in the shadow of a steep (and necessary) increase in funding for the elderly. This suggests an agenda for setting priorities based on the needs of an aging population, and understandably so. However, while the number of protections increase for those who aren't defined as "different", the understanding and protection provided for others, is taken away. Ironically, even the elderly can suffer Gender Identity Disorder. We, as a society - MUST be prepared to foster equity in our entire population. To single out, and discriminate against any one debilitating birth defect means that we eventually have the capacity to single out, and discriminate against others. To think that one day children born with Down Syndrome might be disenfranchised by those whom they might have actually voted for, is truly disheartening. Like any birth defect - should a cure exist, and the need for that cure be evident - it should be included in our basic rights to health care. If a child born with Cerebral Palsy could be cured we would NOT hesitate to invest in that person's future. So why then would a person born with Gender Identity Disorder be treated any differently? Has any consideration been made for the costs to support someone who cannot afford a readily available cure?
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> Sex Reassignment Surgery can, and does drastically increase the ongoing health, and well being of many who, one day - will be happy, healthy seniors. It would seem, that the "... financial and other barriers" mentioned in the Canada Health Act could better be served by perhaps recalling why it was written in the first place.
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> (Mr) Stacy D. Green
> Alberta Resident & President of PFLAG Canada
>
> (Mrs) Lynne Delorme
> Regional Director (Prairie Region): PFLAG Canada