Update for Community Members
Subject: Discussions regarding SRS and Trans Health Care Policy in Ontario
Representatives of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Sherbourne Health Centre, and the Trans community, including Trans PULSE and the Trans Health Lobby Group of Rainbow Health Network, have met twice (on Nov 24th 2008 and Jan 12th 2009), to share their perspectives regarding policies for SRS and Trans Health Care and to prepare for a consultation meeting with Assistant Deputy Minister of Health, Steini Brown and his staff. A full and respectful discussion was held and all parties felt that progress is being made in developing policy positions.
The meeting with the Assistant Deputy Minister and members of his staff will be in February, at which time all representatives will offer their policy recommendations. We are not striving for a consensus in all areas but hope to offer a range of policy alternatives based on different theoretical frameworks, examples and experiences. After hearing from the representatives, it will be up to the Ministry of Health to decide if they wish to undertake any further discussions or studies and whether to consider any changes to current policies. We will inform the Ministry that it is our intent to continue to monitor the situation and assist them to make progress on this issue.
The SRS and Trans Health Policy Group has agreed that until our consultations with the Assistant Deputy Minister have taken place and we are told of their official response, we will provide only general information on our progress, and that no interviews will be given to the media on this topic.
