Evidence of meeting #142 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was community.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health
You know, what I can say is that in Ontario, over a nine-year period, there were $10 million in out-of-country costs. I'm vague on that data, but I can follow with it. The countries are the U.S. predominantly, but there are folks who do have surgeries in places like Thailand.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
For any of you, I was just wondering whether there are any countries or societies that are doing it better than we are. This would be where members of gender-diverse or sexual minorities are living with better security, better safety, better health care and better everything. Is there any place that you could point us to?
Provincial Program Director, Trans Care BC, Provincial Health Services Authority
No.
President, Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health
I don't have a lot to say on that. I think there are cultures within the world that are doing it better, where gender is just more fluid and more accepted. I can't really say that this always translates into equitable employment status or that sort of thing, no.
Provincial Program Director, Trans Care BC, Provincial Health Services Authority
Could I make a comment about the question you asked about out-of-country care?
Provincial Program Director, Trans Care BC, Provincial Health Services Authority
I wanted to mention that hormone therapy doesn't work the same for trans masculine people as it does for trans feminine people. In B.C. we've been seeing trans women suggesting things like facial feminization surgery and facial hair removal. There are other interventions that would be required that would increase safety and well-being. For those, British Columbians aren't funded. We do see, unfortunately, some trans women quite urgently needing that care and travelling to places like Thailand for facial feminization surgery and then coming back with very serious complications.
It's a really important area to look at.
Testosterone really makes a lot of changes for a trans man—bulking up, facial changes, hair growth—whereas for trans women, estrogen doesn't work because you can't override the testosterone in the same way. Often more surgical intervention is required for trans women.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
We've heard some extremely disappointing, if not shocking, information about the lack of education in our medical faculties, and how little doctors are.... I'm even thinking of colleges for teachers. Have any of you been invited to speak to faculties of medicine or teachers' colleges to help begin that process of educating?
I'm seeing a lot of nodding.
Program Coordinator and Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, OK2BME, KW Counselling Services
Yes, I partnered with the University of Waterloo to do a trans wellness conference in Waterloo, which was attended by doctors. We're also working with our local hospitals and mental health professionals to improve care. On this end, however, it often means we overextend ourselves to make sure that we deliver free, accessible programming and that we're there when the doctors ask. Otherwise, they're not going to be receptive to the information. We get a lot of feedback from our young people accessing psychiatric and hospital care that it is not adequate. We really go out of our way to say “hear us”. People often do not come to us.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bill Casey
I just want to say to the panel, you are incredible. I think everybody feels that. You're helping us understand, and we don't understand. It's a whole new vocabulary for me. I'm glad Don Davies said he's learning, because I'm sure learning.
Mr. ... Jack said—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bill Casey
I'm learning.
Jack said it will be a future where notions of presumed gender and expected behaviours and identities based on sex will be old and obsolete. I hope you're right, but we have a long way to go.
This is our sixth meeting and the witnesses are all so articulate and knowledgeable. You know your issue, your subject, your challenges and your hurdles.
On behalf of the committee, I want to say thanks very, very much for your testimony because it is incredible. I wish that those seats were filled with Canadians. I just wish all Canadians could sit in on all these meetings we've had because we've learned a lot. I know I've learned a lot and it's been incredible.
Thanks very much on behalf of the committee.
We are going to suspend for a couple of minutes and then we're going to resume.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
