Quebec’s education minister, Bernard Drainville, announced that he will not establish a legislative committee on gender identity. Instead, he prefers to form a panel of experts to study the issue and prevent political exploitation. Minister Drainville expressed concerns about the potential partisan use of the topic during committee hearings and believes that an expert panel would be more suitable to address the issues at hand. This decision comes after calls from Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, for a parliamentary commission to examine contentious issues related to gendered bathrooms, new pronouns, and youth with gender dysphoria.
Minister Drainville stated that he sees an imposition of ideology from the radical left, which he considers problematic. He believes that new programs in the education system should undergo democratic debate rather than being imposed without discussion. He emphasizes that parents entrust their children to the state, and therefore, governments must show respect for their concerns.
Recently, several incidents related to gender identity have made headlines. In August, a “nonbinary” part-time teacher who prefers to be addressed with the pronoun Mx. received threats and is currently under investigation by the police. Furthermore, an announcement by École secondaire d’Iberville in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, to introduce “gender-neutral” washrooms for boys and girls sparked controversy. Minister Drainville expressed opposition to this decision, stating that boys and girls should not share the same bathrooms due to concerns about privacy and potential harassment.
Quebec is not the only province in Canada addressing the issue of gender identity. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce emphasized the importance of parental involvement when students want to change their gender identity or pronouns at school. Premier Doug Ford also stressed the rights of parents, stating that school boards should not indoctrinate children. Similarly, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe highlighted the importance of parental consent in his province and cited strong support for parental inclusion and consent according to an Angus Reid poll.
Various provinces, such as Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Manitoba, have implemented policies that prioritize parental involvement and consent in decisions regarding a child’s gender identity or pronouns at school. These policies aim to ensure that parents are not excluded from their child’s life and allow them to be actively involved in decision-making processes. Overall, the topic of gender identity continues to be a hotly debated issue across Canada, with different provinces taking various approaches to address it.