Pierre Poilievre has weighed in on the dangers of what he described as "gender ideology" in Canadian schools, opposed access to gender-affirming healthcare for young trans people and stated that he is only aware of two genders.
Poilievre is the only leader of a major political party to support Premier Danielle Smith and the Government of Alberta’s legislation related to transgender people, transgender youth and their families. The legislation in question restricts healthcare access for transgender young people, limits the freedom of transgender youth to be themselves at school, and bans transgender women from participating in women’s sports.
The Conservative Party of Canada has two openly queer individuals running for re-election, and at least two other 2SLGBTQIA+ candidates.
In 2023, the membership passed 2 policy resolutions related to transgender people at their national convention. The first policy supports banning transgender women from women's spaces, sports and services. The second would ban access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors.
Party Leader Pierre Poilievre voted against marriage equality in 2005, and voted to reopen the marriage equality debate in 2006. He recently indicated his support for marriage equality following questions from reporters, stating that it has been a "success" in Canada.
In 2016, the party updated its platform to recognize same-sex marriage, signaling a move towards greater inclusivity. This builds on work undertaken during the Harper administration (2006-2015), where some LGBTQ+ issues, including refugees, advocating for decriminalization, and embassy support for human rights defenders, were explicitly integrated into Canadian foreign policy.
The Conservative Party of Canada includes no commitments to advancing equality, freedom and human rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. The only reference to our communities is included in a commitment to revoke a Corrections Services Canada that allowed transgender women to be housed in a prison aligned with their gender identity. Notably, the platform mentions women only 4 times, with three of those mentions captured within the aforementioned commitment.