Alberta to join Saskatchewan in court battle over classroom pronoun law

The Alberta government is looking to join Saskatchewan in a court battle over its classroom pronoun policy.

Both provincial justice minister released a joint statement on Tuesday, indicating Alberta’s intentions to intervene in the Parents’ Bill of Rights case, which is currently before the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.

“Saskatchewan and Alberta agree that the key figures in children’s lives are their parents, and our provinces are both committed to supporting families and children so that they can work through unique needs together,” reads the statement.

The move comes after a judge ruled in February that a court challenge by UR Pride, an LGBTQ group in Regina, can proceed over Saskatchewan’s law. The law requires students under 16 get parental consent before changing their names or pronouns at school.

Lawyers for UR Pride argue the law limits the rights of gender-diverse youth who are entitled to a safe educational environment.

“Notifying parents and requiring their consent before a child’s name or pronouns can be changed in schools, and before classroom discussions about gender identity and other sensitive subjects occur, ensures that the parent-child relationship is respected and paramount,” reads the joint statement.

According to the statement, the justice ministers believe the case has the potential to impact parental rights across Canada, and the Parliamentary Supremacy Clause.

Now, the Alberta government will argue that the use of this clause should have prevented Saskatchewan’s court from reviewing the constitutionality of the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

The United Conservative Party government in Alberta said it plans to introduce legislation in the fall that require parental consent when students 15 and under want to change their name or pronouns at school. Students who are 16 and 17 would not need consent, but their parents would have to be notified.

The province also plans to restrict gender affirmation treatments, instruction on gender and sexuality in school, and the participation of transgender women in sports.

Similar to Saskatchewan, New Brunswick has made rules that prevent children under 16 from changing their names or pronouns at school without parental consent.

With files from The Canadian Press