In the heart of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, lawmakers are preparing for a lengthy discussion surrounding a contentious policy, centered around requiring parental approval before a minor may be addressed by an alternate pronoun at an academic establishment.
The legislation in question, named Bill 137 or popularly referred to as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, was presented last week. Should the bill pass, pupils under the age of 16 would be obligated to procure consent from their parents or guardians if they desire to modify their pronouns or names within school premises.
Upon its introduction in the legislative assembly last week, the initial reading of the bill was met with unequivocal support from the Saskatchewan Party, which holds the majority. Conversely, the opposition Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) unanimously disagreed with the proposed legislation.
One characteristic of the bill under scrutiny is its unspecified nature, which, under parliamentary rules, permits up to 20 hours of debate between the government and the official opposition. The Saskatchewan Party has suggested doubling this duration, indicating that approximately 40 hours of debate could take place over this week and the next.
Upon the bill’s unveiling last Thursday, there was notable inclusion of the government’s intent to utilize the federal notwithstanding clause, a tool used to circumvent a potential challenge under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The policy, initially disclosed in August, was temporarily halted as a result of a sanction issued by a Court of King’s Bench judge. The suspension came in response to a legal challenge by UR Pride, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ2S+ rights. UR Pride vehemently opposed the policy, labeling it as damaging and discriminatory towards the LGBTQ2S+ youth.
