Nova Scotia Young Liberals think the province should foot the bill for sex-change operations.

The idea is one of two dozen resolutions Grits will debate this weekend at the party’s annual meeting in Halifax.

Resolution 11 said transsexualism is a congenital birth condition where there is a mismatch between the physical outward appearance of a person’s gender and his or her inner perception.

« Other congenital birth conditions, such as limb malformation, heart and nervous system defects and genetic disorders such as a predisposition to a heart attack or heart disease, are currently covered under the Nova Scotia health-care system, » the resolution says.

It goes on to say that human rights tribunals in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec have ruled those provinces must pay for gender reassignment surgery.

The resolution said Nova Scotia should bring in a transsexual health program similar to one in B.C. that would pay for « gender reassignment surgery for transsexual individuals, along with pre- and post-surgery care and counselling. »

J.T. Davis with the Youth Project, a group that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, said transgender individuals often struggle with depression as well as barriers to employment. Finding enough money to cover the surgeries, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, is also very difficult.

« It’s a serious mental health issue to have your body not feel right, » Ms. Davis said Thursday.

« It’s absolutely time » for Nova Scotia to cover the cost, she said.

Health Department spokeswoman Pamela Hafey said the surgery is not an insured service under the province’s Health Services and Insurance Act.

« We don’t cover it because it is not considered a necessary surgery, » she said Thursday.

A total of 26 resolutions are on the agenda for the meeting, which starts tonight with a speech by Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil at the Westin Nova Scotian hotel. The meeting will also include a session with federal MPs, a discussion about federal fundraising, a talk from motivational speaker Jack Ettinger and a report on election readiness. The Liberals are now in third place in the House of Assembly and in recent polls.

« I’ve had the opportunity over the last 10 months to go around the province and the optimism is a lot higher than people have been acknowledging, » Mr. McNeil said in an interview Thursday.

« I think it’s an opportunity for us as a party to just show that collectively as a group and use it as a springboard as we move towards a spring session of the legislature. »

The Grit boss said he didn’t want to give his opinion on any of the resolutions until party members have had a change to debate them.

One resolution from the party’s standing committee on provincial policy development urges the province to work with Ottawa to bring in legislation that would ban the possession of handguns in private homes. It said handguns could only be owned if they are locked securely at a rifle range or shooting club and remain on those premises.

« Cutting off the ability to own and possess handguns will help limit the chance these guns will fall into the wrong hands, » the resolution said.

Other resolutions include a proposal by young Liberals that the voting age in Nova Scotia be dropped to 16 from 18.

« Voter turnout has been falling at an astonishing rate, » the resolution says. « Individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 are the least likely to vote of any demographic. Individuals who vote in the first election for which they are eligible are more likely to vote thereafter and individuals who do not are less likely. »

The party will also discuss a resolution to urge the province to set a goal of generating 75 per cent of Nova Scotia’s electricity from renewable sources by 2028. Another urges all Nova Scotians to stop using the term Come From Away when addressing newcomers and call them citizens who « come from anywhere. »

Resolution 7 backs Halifax Clayton Park MLA Diana Whalen’s fight to have the third Monday in February made a statutory holiday honouring Joe Howe.

Another resolution urges the province to work on getting better mass transit, such as high-speed trains, between Nova Scotia cities and other parts of the Maritimes in order to reduce carbon emissions.

Lire l'actualité sur The Chronical Herald Metro (AMY SMITH Provincial Reporter)

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