If re-elected, the Sask. Party vows to implement a gendered change room policy in schools

October 18, 2024 TruthUSA

Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe has stated that if his party is re-elected, they will implement a policy restricting access to change rooms in schools based on biological gender.

“I’ll be very clear, there will be a directive from the minister of education that would say that biological boys would not be in the change room with biological girls,” Moe emphasized. “It would be the first order of business if we’re re-elected.”

This matter was not included in Moe’s party platform, which was released on Oct. 12. It was also not addressed during the leaders’ debate between Moe and NDP Leader Carla Beck. The provincial election in Saskatchewan is scheduled for Oct. 28.

Beck criticized the change room policy, stating that it would make “already vulnerable kids more vulnerable” and accused Moe and the Sask. Party of prioritizing their own political interests over the well-being of students. She made these remarks during an unrelated press conference in Regina on Oct. 17, responding to a reporter’s question about Moe’s announcement.

This is not the first time Moe has introduced a school policy addressing gender issues. In August 2023, his then-Education Minister Dustin Duncan introduced a policy that required schools to obtain parental consent if a student wished to change their names or pronouns.

UR Pride, an LGBT peer support group, contested this policy. In September 2023, the Court of King’s Bench of Saskatchewan issued an injunction against the policy pending a full hearing.

Moe’s government proceeded with the policy as a bill named the Parents’ Bill of Rights, utilizing the notwithstanding clause. The bill was enacted into law in October 2023. The legislation mandates parental approval for students under 16 who wish to change their name or pronoun.

Legal hearings regarding the UR Pride challenge concluded on Sept. 24. The provincial Court of Appeal is yet to announce its decision.

Alberta followed Saskatchewan’s lead by implementing its own pronoun policy and prohibiting gender-altering surgeries for individuals under 17 and puberty blockers for those under 15. Premier Danielle Smith also stated that transgender athletes would not be allowed in women-only sporting divisions.

In mid-2023, New Brunswick became the first Canadian province to require teachers to obtain parental consent before using the preferred name and pronouns of transgender or non-binary students under 16.

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