Take Action for Gender Affirming Care in Ontario

Introduction & Context

On November 16th, 2022, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto Centre, introduced the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act, in the Ontario Legislature. If passed, the bill will require the Ministry of Health to form an advisory committee to review the state of trans healthcare in Ontario, and make recommendations to the Minister of Health, for improving gender affirming care in Ontario.

Passing this bill is the first step to improving gender affirming care, and thereby improving the health and well-being of trans people, in Ontario.

We are calling on the Government of Ontario and all Ontario political parties to expedite Bill 42 and do their part to support trans people in our province.

Passing the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act and improving coverage of and access to gender affirming healthcare is essential to improving the health and well-being of trans people in Ontario.

Will you take action for gender affirming care?

What Does The Bill Do?

What Does The Bill Do?

If passed, the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act will mandate the Ontario Ministry of Health to strike a provincial advisory committee (including both members of the trans and gender diverse community, and gender-affirming healthcare providers) to make recommendations to the Minister of Health for improving access to and coverage for gender affirming health care in Ontario.

Through consultation with trans, two spirit, non-binary and gender diverse communities, as well as relevant service providers and other key stakeholders,, the committee will create and submit a report with comprehensive recommendations to the Minister of Health within 6 months after the advisory committee is established.

No more than 90 days after the Minister receives the report from the advisory committee, the Minister will be mandated to inform the Assembly (i.e, Queen’s Park) of the recommendations that the Minister recommends the Government of Ontario implement.

While this is but one step towards improving gender-affirming healthcare in Ontario, this bill represents a unique opportunity to put trans and gender diverse healthcare on the provincial agenda.

The Issue

The Issue

  • Trans people currently face wait times of over 2 years to access medically necessary gender-affirming health services.

  • Outside of urban centres, access to gender-affirming care is even more difficult, with individuals often having to travel to big cities to access care that should be available in their hometowns.

  • Many physicians and healthcare providers want to provide trans people with the services they need, but don’t receive sufficient training and support.

  • Barriers to care, delayed access to care, and the cost of medically necessary services left out of OHIP coverage have an immense impact on the health and well-being of trans people across Ontario.

  • 37-38% of trans people have experienced discrimination while accessing healthcare services.

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