The province is facing a dispute over its decision to stop paying for sex-change operations.
The Alberta government announced in last week's budget that it would no longer pay for sex changes, saving an estimated $700,000 a year.
Several sex-change candidates said that the operation is too expensive without government assistance.
"This is not a choice. It's a medical necessity. We've gone through extreme psychological evaluations," said Jamie-Lynn Garvin.
Garvin has been on a waiting list for surgery for a year, and says eliminating the funding will actually cost the health care system more.
"Within our transgendered community, our rate of depression and everything is much higher than the average community," said Garvin.
Liberal leader David Swann agrees that it is a medical issue and it is a medically essential service for certain individuals.
The group was introduced during Tuesday's question period and some members of the opposition attacked the move.
"Delisting this surgery trims a tiny fraction from the health budget but slashes at the very foundation of human rights," said Rachel Notley, NDP MLA.
Health Minister Ron Liepert now says about four dozen of the operations will still be covered.
Liepert also says he told the legislature funding will be given to 26 people who were already approved for the surgery, plus another 20 who were waiting for approval.
Premier Ed Stelmach said the taxpayers will no longer be funding this particular surgery.
Still, Alberta's transgendered community isn't done fighting, several members plan to file a complaint Wednesday with the province's human rights commission.
With files from the Canadian Press and Bill Fortier
