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But for many trans Canadians, the damage amounts to more than just dollars and cents.

The private surgical centre is adjacent to Dr. Pierre Brassard’s practice. Brassard is the only surgeon in Canada who performs sex reassignment surgery — or gender affirming surgery, which is the preferred term. Some trans persons opt to undergo the procedure so their physical sex aligns with their gender identity, but it can take years just to get an appointment. More and more jurisdictions fund the surgery — Ontario announced in November that OHIP would start this year covering the surgery — which has both increased access and wait times.

Police said they were aware of the clinic’s import to the trans community, but the the crime has not been referred to the Montreal Police Service’s hate crimes unit.

Imagine we (had) only one abortion clinic in Canada and then it got burned down

Even amid the uncertainty, members of the trans community in Montreal and beyond are concerned about the implications of the loss. Those who are travelling to upcoming appointments worry they need to make alternative travel and hotel arrangements, others fear a procedure for which they’ve already waited years has been further delayed.

“This is devastating for trans health care,” said Sophia Banks, a Montreal-based photographer and trans-rights advocate. “People are freaking out” about wait times and how long the clinic will be closed. She said they’re also concerned about why this happened. No one yet knows what the motive was, or if the arson attempt was related to the gender-affirming surgeries at the clinic, but it’s hard not to wonder as much.

“We’re still only working with one surgeon,” she said, even though jurisdictions like Ontario say they want to improve access, the most complex surgeries are still all performed in Montreal at Dr. Brassard’s clinic. (Some more routine procedures, such as mastectomies or breast enhancements, can be done in many cities). “Imagine we (had) only one abortion clinic in Canada and then it got burned down.”