No word on the motive or how patients could be affected.
The only clinic in Canada where certain gender-affirming surgeries are performed was severely damaged Monday night in a suspected case of arson.
Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie / Via cmcmontreal.com
A fire was set at Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie in Montreal at 8:45 p.m., police told BuzzFeed Canada.
While the sprinkler system stopped the fire from spreading, TVA reports the water and smoke caused several hundred thousand dollars of damage. No injuries were reported and police are now seeking a man in connection with the blaze.
The cosmetic surgery clinic is home to Canada's only doctor performing more complex gender-affirming surgeries like vaginoplasty and phalloplasty. Led by Dr. Pierre Broussard, transgender patients from across the country are referred to the clinic. With wait times already spanning years — and that's after the wait for a referral — there's concern the fire damage could make the situation even worse.
Dr. Broussard's office declined to comment on how patients could be affected, but transgender Canadians and their allies are concerned about the potential impact and motivations.