A BC NDP MP says children have rights but parents only have responsibilities.

Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke) made his comments in the lobby of the House of Commons on February 8 in the context of the Alberta government’s decision to stop puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and surgeries for those under 16.

In response to a reporter’s question, “Do you view this as a parental rights issue at all?” Garrison said no.

“Well, I’d like to say first of all, there’s no such things as parental rights in Canada. There are parental responsibilities. And in Canadian family law the primary responsibility of parents is to support and affirm their kids. Children have rights in Canada and these kinds of policies restrict the rights that children have in Canada,” Garrison said, concluding with a smile.