University of Saskatchewan Students Union (USSU) is demanding the repeal of Saskatchewan's Bill 137, also known as the Parent's Bill of Rights. Passed in October 2023, the law requires parental consent for students under 16 to change their name or pronouns at school. It also permits parents to opt their children out of sex education classes.The USSU, joined by the University Pride Centre and Women's Centre, sent a letter arguing the bill causes harm. "Bill 137 continues to directly harm and enact violence on youth whose understandings of self do not conform to perspective colonial binaries of gender identity and gender expression," said the USSU letter..It further links restricted sexual education access to concerning provincial statistics. .The letter said Saskatchewan has Canada's second-highest rate of sexual violence and consistently high increases in HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Access to sex education is framed as an important student resource.When the bill passed, Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill called it "an inclusionary policy" ensuring parents lead important decisions in their children’s lives. “The Parent's Bill of Rights is an inclusionary policy that ensures that parents are at the forefront of every important decision in their child’s life.” said Cockrill..The Parent’s Bill of Rights amended The Education Act, 1995, requiring consent for name or pronoun changes for under 16 years old students. Schools must get professional support if seeking consent might endanger a student, helping develop a plan with parents. The government has consistently said this ensures support both at school and home.The government used the notwithstanding clause to pass Bill 137. Its compliance with Charter rights remains under consideration by the court of appeal.
