Gender identity: New Brunswick can intervene in a case in Saskatchewan
New Brunswick is already defending itself against a legal challenge to its 713 policy.
The Attorney General of New Brunswick will be able to make arguments in a case to be heard in Saskatchewan on gender identity among under-16s who attend school.
The Saskatchewan government is defending itself against a legal challenge to changes to its education law.
Saskatchewan has made parental consent mandatory for staff at a public school in the province to use the name or pronoun that is preferred by a student under the age of 16.
This follows the example of New Brunswick's Policy 713, which was amended in 2022 by the Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs.
In Saskatchewan, the government adopted a Parents' Bill of Rights last October, invoking the notwithstanding clause (commonly known as the notwithstanding clause) to avoid some of the obligations set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In the spring, New Brunswick Attorney General Ted Flemming indicated his willingness to intervene in the legal challenge to the policy in Saskatchewan.
On Friday, an appeals court in the Prairie province allowed New Brunswick and Alberta to present their arguments in the case. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on September 23.
Flemming declined to be interviewed. The Department of Justice and Public Safety is pleased with the court's decision and is now preparing for its presentation, provincial government spokesman Allan Deering said in an email.
A man denounces Premier Scott Moe's party during the Pride parade in Regina, Saskatchewan, on June 15.
In addition to the New Brunswick and Alberta attorneys general, six organizations have been granted intervener status in this legal challenge in Saskatchewan, which was initiated by the University of Regina's UR Pride (YOUR).
They are Amnesty International Canada, the Justice for Children and Youth Legal Clinic (JFCY), the John Howard Society, the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Three unions — the Canadian Teachers' Federation (OJT), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour — were also granted leave to intervene.
Protesters in support of Policy 713 on September 20, 2023 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
On the other hand, the court rejected the request of Our Duty Canada, a group that opposes gender transitions. The court explained that these activists would not offer any perspective on the constitutional issues being considered in this case.
In New Brunswick, Policy 713 is the target of a legal challenge orchestrated by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA).
Another legal challenge, launched by an English-language school district, was dismissed earlier this month by the New Brunswick Court of King's Bench. The judge was of the view that theCCLA was more appropriate for discussing these issues.
According to Aidan Cox's report, CBC
The Saskatchewan government is defending itself against a legal challenge to changes to its education law.
Saskatchewan has made parental consent mandatory for staff at a public school in the province to use the name or pronoun that is preferred by a student under the age of 16.
This follows the example of New Brunswick's Policy 713, which was amended in 2022 by the Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs.
In Saskatchewan, the government adopted a Parents' Bill of Rights last October, invoking the notwithstanding clause (commonly known as the notwithstanding clause) to avoid some of the obligations set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In the spring, New Brunswick Attorney General Ted Flemming indicated his willingness to intervene in the legal challenge to the policy in Saskatchewan.
On Friday, an appeals court in the Prairie province allowed New Brunswick and Alberta to present their arguments in the case. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on September 23.
Flemming declined to be interviewed. The Department of Justice and Public Safety is pleased with the court's decision and is now preparing for its presentation, provincial government spokesman Allan Deering said in an email.
A man denounces Premier Scott Moe's party during the Pride parade in Regina, Saskatchewan, on June 15.
In addition to the New Brunswick and Alberta attorneys general, six organizations have been granted intervener status in this legal challenge in Saskatchewan, which was initiated by the University of Regina's UR Pride (YOUR).
They are Amnesty International Canada, the Justice for Children and Youth Legal Clinic (JFCY), the John Howard Society, the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Three unions — the Canadian Teachers' Federation (OJT), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour — were also granted leave to intervene.
Protesters in support of Policy 713 on September 20, 2023 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
On the other hand, the court rejected the request of Our Duty Canada, a group that opposes gender transitions. The court explained that these activists would not offer any perspective on the constitutional issues being considered in this case.
In New Brunswick, Policy 713 is the target of a legal challenge orchestrated by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA).
Another legal challenge, launched by an English-language school district, was dismissed earlier this month by the New Brunswick Court of King's Bench. The judge was of the view that theCCLA was more appropriate for discussing these issues.
According to Aidan Cox's report, CBC
