Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has announced that his government plans to introduce a bill to protect parental rights. The announcement was made on social media and during a speech in Regina on September 7. In response to criticism and court challenges funded by out-of-province interest groups, Premier Moe emphasized his government’s commitment to protecting parents’ rights and stated that the first bill introduced in the fall legislative session will focus on this issue.
The specific details of the proposed bill were not provided during the announcement. According to a statement from Premier Moe’s office to CKOM News, more information will be disclosed in due course.
This announcement comes amid an ongoing dispute over parental rights that began in August when the provincial government introduced a new policy. This policy mandates that schools seek parental permission before changing a child’s preferred name or pronouns if they are under the age of 16. It also requires parents and guardians to be informed about the sexual health curriculum and gives them the option to decline their child’s participation. The government has instructed school boards to suspend involvement with third-party groups providing sexual health education while a review of resources is conducted by the Ministry of Education.
The decision to prioritize parental rights legislation has received support from parents’ advocacy groups. Nadine Ness, a representative from Unified Grassroots, expressed her approval of the government’s initiative and highlighted the pressure faced by teachers and school boards opposing the new policy on pronouns.
Saskatchewan has joined New Brunswick in advocating for parents to be informed if their children choose to use different names or pronouns. Manitoba’s Premier Heather Stefanson has also stated her party’s intention to enhance parental rights if reelected on October 3.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce has expressed his support for parents being informed about changes impacting their children, but has not committed to introducing legislation. An Angus Reid poll released on August 28 revealed that 78 percent of Canadians believe parents should be informed if their children are changing genders at school.
However, some individuals and groups have raised concerns about the potential negative impact of prioritizing parental rights. Regina-based UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity has initiated legal action against the new pronoun policy, filing an application in Regina’s Court of King’s Bench. The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation has also criticized the policy, labeling it “dangerous” and “harmful” to students.
Despite the pushback, some supporters of the government’s action see it as a necessary response to years of advocacy promoting policies they believe are detrimental to children. The Saskatchewan legislature is set to resume sitting on October 25.