Gender-affirming healthcare debated in Lambton County
The hallway leading to the Plymptom-Wyoming town council chamber filled up early on Wednesday evening, mostly with members of the public passionate in their support, or their opposition, to a motion by Coun. John van Klaveren.
Mayor Gary Atkinson set the tone early in council meeting, "No heckling, no profanity or you'll be asked to leave."
The motion called on municipal council to voice opposition to Bill 42, titled the “Gender Affirming Health Care Advisory Committee Act.”
If passed, the private member's bill would result in a committee that would make recommendations designed to improve access to and coverage for gender affirming health care.
Once the motion was on the floor, van Klaveren spoke first, saying that he felt the issue was important to the community.
He offered no other argument for the motion, seemingly resigned to the fact it would not pass.
"My colleagues are to be commended for their professionalism and respect of this motion, regardless of their opinions," said van Klaveren.
Other councillors voiced their own concerns about Bill 42 but said it was an issue best left to the province.
Only Coun. Kristen Rodrigues openly supporting the bill. She also criticised the wording of the motion, which she said was more like an opinion piece.
Two members of the public were given an opportunity to address council — one supporting the motion, one opposing.
Councillor John van Klaveren address Plympton-Wyoming town council on March 30, 2023. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)In the end, van Klaveren's motion fell 6-1. Afterward he offered praise to his fellow council members,
"You can tell by their character that they wanted to do this right. In their opinion, that's where they landed and I can respect where they're at."
The narratives against Bill 42 and where it will take the province, often focus on children. Those views were shared by van Klaveren supporters inside the council chamber.
Some were holding signs saying “no child is born in the wrong body,” “kids need puberty” and “18+ no fuss.”
Outside the town hall, Josh DeGroot expressed similar sentiments, "A lot of parents are concerned about things that this puts in front of children who deserve to be kids."
Marika Sylvain Groendyk spoke against the motion in council chambers. She said the narrative around the impacts on children has been growing across North American in recent months and worries about it being connected to Bill 42.
"We've seen people very irate and upset about the notion of children transitioning and I'm not sure how or why it started," she said.
Sylvain Groendyk is a former social worker who now does communications training focusing on trauma and crisis issues.
She sees value in the bill, adding, "The bill that we were talking about tonight [Wednesday] is specific about making a working group from folks that gender affirming care impacts. It makes perfect sense and is very common in the social services sector."
In the end, those on both sides of the evening's discussion were encouraged to make their opinions known to their Members of Provincial Parliament.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.