While some are celebrating the Alberta government's decision to reinstate funding for gender reassignment surgeries, official opposition leader Danielle Smith says it's not in line with the health care priorities of Albertans.

Wildrose
leader Danielle Smith says there are other health care priorities the
Alberta government should focus on apart from gender reassignment
surgeries. (CBC)“We have
unacceptable wait times for medically-necessary surgery, growing
backlogs of seniors waiting for long-term care, seniors in long-term
care being fed inedible food and a bureaucracy that prevents money from
getting to the front lines,” she said in a release.
“If the government is going to pay for additional health care, it
should consider things like dentistry, insulin pumps, and hearing aids
for seniors first. While we respect the freedom of individuals to seek
this procedure, it is clear there are more pressing priorities and needs
for Albertans that must be put first.”
But others are applauding the province's decision to reinstate the funding that was cut about three years ago.


Mercedes Allen and April Friesen celebrated in their High River home in southern Alberta on Thursday after hearing the news.

April
Friesen, left, and Mercedes Allen say they're shocked and happy the
province will reinstate funding for gender reassignment surgery. (Mary-Catherine McIntosh/CBC)“We're pretty happy about things ... everybody is jumping for joy,” said Friesen.


Both women have had the surgery which was paid for by the province at a cost of about $18,000 each.


And both have been fighting for this day since the surgery was
delisted. Friesen figures they've made about 70 trips to Edmonton for
that fight.
“When the funding was cut, there were an awful lot of people who were
absolutely devastated,” she said. “They didn't know how they were going
to get on with their lives and when we went to the support groups that
room was so full it was standing room only.”
The couple says they know two transgendered people who've traveled to
Thailand for the surgery and it's not clear whether they'll now be
reimbursed for that.





http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/06/08/calgary-gender-reassignment-surgery-funding-reaction.html