By: Charlotte Dalwood
Matters Commented On: Government of New Brunswick, Policy 713 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, (Fredricton: Government of New Brunswick, 2023); Government of Saskatchewan, Use of Preferred First Name and Pronouns by Students, (Regina: Government of Saskatchewan, 2023); Government of Alberta, News Release, “Preserving choice for children and youth” (1 February 2024).
PDF Version: Original Powers: Reviving the Federal Disallowance Power to Combat Anti-Trans Legislation
A specter haunts Canada: the specter of legislated transphobia.
It began in New Brunswick. In Summer 2023, the province’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Education changed Policy 713—the provincial education policy pertaining to sexual orientation and gender—to limit gender diverse students’ ability to use their chosen names and pronouns at school (see New Brunswick, Department of Education and Early Childhood Education, Policy 713 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick, 2023)).