Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is recalling the legislature early to push through legislation to protect parental rights over their children’s gender identity..A Court of King’s Bench judge has issued an injunction to stop a Saskatchewan policy that mandates parental consent for children under 16 to use different names and pronouns at school..On Thursday morning, Court of King’s Bench Justice Michael Megaw decided to halt the policy while the case is ongoing..“The public interest in recognizing the importance of the governmental Policy is outweighed by the public interest of not exposing that minority of students to exposure to the potentially irreparable harm and mental health difficulty,” wrote Megaw..University of Regina Pride Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity lawyers wanted the injunction..The U of R Pride Centre lawyers argued the policy could potentially lead teachers to disclose a student's gender identity or use incorrect pronouns, thereby violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms..“Today, I asked the Speaker to recall the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, October 10 to pass legislation to protect parents’ rights,” said Moe..“Our government is extremely dismayed by the judicial overreach of the court blocking implementation of the Parental Inclusion and Consent policy, which has the strong support of a majority of Saskatchewan residents, in particular, Saskatchewan parents.”.“The default position should never be to keep a child's information from their parents,” said Moe..“It is in the best interest of children to ensure parents are included in their children's education, in their classrooms and in all important decisions involving their children.".Moe’s government is prepared to use the notwithstanding clause to protect parental rights in the province..“That is why our government will take action to ensure the rights of Saskatchewan parents are protected and that this policy is implemented by recalling the Legislative Assembly and using the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian constitution to pass legislation to protect parental rights,” said Moe..The Saskatchewan legislature was supposed to return on October 25 for the fall session..The province’s policy stated when children choose to change their names or pronouns, parents should be involved..It is anticipated arguments in a challenge to the policy will be heard before the end of the year..For students under the age of 16 who wish to change their name or pronouns at school to reflect their gender identity, the policy requires parental or guardian consent..The province announced the policy in August..The NDP Education Critic Matt Love said “We welcome this decision from the Court of King’s Bench.”.“The government should scrap this policy, which will force schools to out vulnerable kids,” said Love..Justice Megaw said in his ruling, “On the whole of the evidence, I am satisfied that those individuals affected by this Policy, youth under the age of 16 who are unable to have their name, pronouns, gender diversity or gender identity observed in the school will suffer irreparable harm.” .“The government should not come forward with legislation in the fall sitting to put this policy into law, and they certainly shouldn’t do so relying on the notwithstanding clause to push this policy forward,” said Love..“The Children’s Advocate has already determined that this policy violates the rights of vulnerable children.”
