The question of whether parents should agree to their child’s name or pronoun changes at school was brought up again in Manitoba on Tuesday. The interim leader of the Opposition Progressive Conservatives stated that parental consent should be mandatory, while the province’s NDP premier accused the Tories of causing division.
“I truly believe that informing parents, even regarding consent — whether it’s about pronouns, or other educational topics — isn't a negative thing,” said interim Tory leader Wayne Ewasko, a former teacher and guidance counselor.
“Why would we want to keep various topics hidden from parents and guardians as we're working to involve more of them in their kids’ education?”
Premier Wab Kinew accused Ewasko of bringing back rhetoric that the Tories hinted at in the last election, when the NDP took power after seven years of Tory rule.
“This kind of division, I think, was rejected in the election by Manitobans, and it’s disappointing that the message hasn’t been received by the PCs’ interim leader,” Kinew said.
In the lead-up to last October’s election, the Tories made parental rights in education part of their platform. However, the promise was vaguely worded and focused on issues such as parental knowledge of the curriculum and presentations from external groups.
At the same time, some other provinces were developing specific policies on names and pronouns.
Saskatchewan and New Brunswick introduced regulations last year that require consent for students aged 16 and under to change their names or pronouns at school.
Lawyers for UR Pride, a Regina LGBTQ organization, argued that Saskatchewan’s policy violates Charter rights and could lead to teachers outing or misgendering children. The Saskatchewan Party government used the notwithstanding clause to override parts of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Saskatchewan’s Human Rights Code.
Alberta recently announced changes that include parental consent for students aged 15 and under who want to change their names or pronouns at school. Students aged 16 and 17 would not need consent, but their parents must be informed.
Ewasko was selected as his party’s temporary leader after former leader Heather Stefanson resigned in January. He will serve until a party leadership convention that is expected to take place this autumn.
Ewasko, in an interview with the Globe and Mail published Tuesday, said he wanted to “emphasize” the issue of parental involvement.
Kinew did not directly answer when asked whether his NDP government plans to introduce any policies on the issue, but hinted at maintaining the current situation for now and expressed support for transgender kids.
“I think our team has a lot of trust in teachers, parents, students, to be able to have a constructive relationship and focus on the best interest of the child,” he said.
Ewasko said support is available for students who may be afraid of their parents’ reaction.
“If students are feeling anxiety or apprehension about talking to their parents, that’s why we have guidance counselors, that’s why we have school social workers, that’s why we have these additional services in our education system.”
