UFCW Canada participates in 2019 CPATH Conference in Montreal

Montreal – November 12, 2019 – UFCW Canada was proud to participate in the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH) bi-annual conference, held in Montreal from November 1 to 3.

The conference brought together more than 350 delegates from across the country, including activists, researchers, public health organizations, government officials, and members of the medical community, to discuss transgender inclusion and gender-affirming health care in Canada.

Through workshop discussions and plenaries, participants engaged in discussions surrounding the current challenges facing transgender persons in accessing national gender-affirming care. The Canadian landscape paints an ad-hoc picture in the provision of transition-related health care, especially the provision of publicly-funded bottom surgeries.

The UFCW Canada and CPATH scan showing ministry-regulated health care has continued to provide a visual profile of the marked disparity that exists between the provinces’ allocation of these health care services and the lack of cross-country uniformity in health care supports for transgender persons. Despite this reality, advocacy efforts from multiple communities – including the labour movement - have led gender-affirming surgeries now being performed in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. 

It is a priority for UFCW Canada to continue supporting the mandate of national organizations working to advance human rights issues in Canada, including transgender health care. This involves acknowledging the role that health and wellbeing play in determining a person’s ability to access and retain employment in Canada. Access to workplace benefits that are inclusive of the diverse health care needs of union members is crucial to creating a culture of belonging.

To this end, UFCW activists recently unanimously passed a resolution at the 2018 UFCW International Convention that calls for the advocacy and bargaining of transgender inclusive health care in UFCW-represented workplaces. As well, the UFCW Canada / CPATH transgender health care services scan continues to serve as valuable resources in advocating for transgender inclusion and greater access to gender-affirming health care services.

As Canada’s leading union, UFCW is dedicated to building mutual support between labour and the LGBTQ+ community. To learn more about UFCW Canada’s LGBTQ+ advocacy work and initiatives, visit www.ufcw.ca/pride.