Premier Scott Moe’s Parents’ Bill of Rights Act passed through the Saskatchewan Legislature on Friday.Bill 137 The Parents’ Bill of Rights Act received 40 yes votes, with 39 votes coming from Sask Party MLAs and one vote from the Sask United Party leader Nadine Wilson.There were 12 no votes, all from NDP MLAs.Bill 137 continued to be debated on Friday morning, with the NDP continuing to make long speeches about human rights violations. NDP Whip Aleana Young inferred during her speech that overturning abortion laws could be next for Moe’s “regressive” Sask Party government.Wilson’s new party, the Sask United Party, takes credit for pushing this new parental rights policy after making it a major political issue in the recent Lumsden-Morse byelection, where her party received over 1100 votes and finished second with 23% of the vote.“I am pleased the Parental Bill of Rights has now passed its final reading in the legislature,” said SUP leader Wilson. “This was a necessary first step in bringing parents back into their children’s education. Today marks the first piece of legislation that the Saskatchewan United Party brought about, from petitions, public pressure, and holding this government to account in the people’s legislature. Our party is looking forward to bringing about more common-sense solutions, while continuing to hold this government to account.”NDP leader Carla Beck said: "“The fact that Scott Moe declared the first emergency sitting in 24 years to essentially police what kids call each other on the playground says a whole lot about his priorities.""I think it’s mind-boggling that the Premier would prioritize this over fixing our hospitals or addressing the rising cost of gas and groceries. Governments of all stripes should focus on getting the basics right.”The Parents' Bill of Rights Act mandates parents be informed if their child under 16 years old requests to use a different pronoun or name at school, it bans third-party sex education organizations from classrooms, such as Planned Parenthood, and makes it mandatory for schools to display the Saskatchewan flag.Moe’s government introduced Bill 137 The Parents’ Bill of Rights Act on October 12 in the Saskatchewan legislature while invoking the notwithstanding clause and returning the legislature two weeks early for the fall sitting.“Today the Parents Bill of Rights Act was introduced in the House,” tweeted Moe.“Unlike the NDP, who want to keep parents in the dark, your Saskatchewan Party government will ensure parents are a part of every important decision involving your child’s education.”.On October 13, Moe referenced a recent Leger poll that found 63% of Canadian parents support parental involvement in the changing of their child’s gender or pronouns at school.“A new poll shows a majority of Canadians support using the notwithstanding clause in the parental rights debate,” tweeted Moe.“I think that the majority of Saskatchewan parents would also agree.”.The new Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill introduced Bill 137 to the legislature."Parents should always be involved in important decisions involving their children," said Cockrill."The Parental Inclusion and Consent policy introduced in August and now this new legislation we are introducing today [October 12] will ensure that continues to be the case.”The new law uses a part of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms called section 33 to ensure parts of the parental inclusion and consent policies are now legally enforced, which were announced on August 22.This new law is a response to a recent decision by the Court of King's Bench, which allowed a temporary pause to the policy through an injunction."This legislation provides clarity that the policy will remain in place," said Cockrill.
