Majority of Manitobans want schools to inform parents of students’ gender-identity changes, poll reveals

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This article was published 28/08/2023 (762 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As arguments over parental rights in schools and policies focusing on them emerge across Canada, a new public opinion poll suggests that three-quarters of Manitobans believe parents should be informed about any changes to their child’s gender identity.

In the Angus Reid Institute poll released Monday, 49 per cent of Manitobans surveyed said parents should be informed and give consent on changes to their child’s gender identity at school. Another 27 per cent believe parents should be informed about the change, 16 per cent think parents should neither be informed nor have a say and seven per cent said they were not sure or couldn’t say.

Shannon Moore, a U of M professor and founding member of People for Public Education, said the survey lacks nuance and contextualization of the issues.

“When somebody asks you, ‘Do you want to know about what’s going on with your child?’ I think a parent’s impulse is to say yes,” Moore said.

However, she said parental-rights policies may put student rights and safety at risk.

“(The policies) can result in harm for students who have unsupportive families who can kick them out (of their homes),” she said. “It doesn’t take into consideration students’ right to privacy.”

On Aug. 17, the Progressive Conservative government committed to updating the province’s Public Schools Act to enhance parental rights. Premier Heather Stefanson said she believes parents should be informed about changes to their child’s gender identity at school.

“Parents know what’s best and in the best interest of their kids,” Stefanson said at the election campaign event. “This will come up in a consultation and parents will decide.”

A provincial government spokesperson said the PCs will conduct consultations with parents and educators before amending the act if the party is re-elected Oct. 3.

In June, the New Brunswick government mandated that teachers obtain parental consent when children under 16 wish to change their names and/or pronouns. The policy had to be adjusted earlier this month after the province’s child and youth advocate found that it was a violation of both New Brunswick’s Human Rights Act and Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Last week, Saskatchewan Education Minister Dustin Duncan announced the implementation of a similar parental consent policy around name and pronoun changes.

In response to both provinces’ policy changes, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association launched a legal campaign to protect the rights of LGBTTQ+ students.

“We feel that these policies that restrict students from being able to use their chosen names are harmful and violate the rights of young people,” Harini Sivalingam, the CCLA’s equality program director said.

Sivalingam said the policies are discriminatory, as they target trans and gender-diverse students.

“For example, a student who wants to use a nickname doesn’t need to seek parental consent, but a trans student would be required to,” she said.

When asked about the parental rights discussion last week, Manitoba Teachers’ Society president Nathan Martindale noted the union’s presence at school board meetings when “book bans and other problematic agenda items” appeared in the spring.

“We’re not going to comment on every campaign promise made by every party, but I think it’s clear where MTS stands in terms of pushing back against that type of rhetoric and making sure that schools are safe places for students who may identify and are a part of the (LGBTTQ+) community,” he said.

Martindale said the union is in favour of the status quo, which does not require local teachers to disclose to a student’s family any request regarding their preferred pronouns in a classroom.

“Students sometimes can’t turn to their parents or guardians at home, and their trusted adult in their life is the teacher at school,” he said. “And so, all of our members take that trusted relationship seriously.”

Sivalingam said that while parental rights are important, it’s crucial to ensure student safety is considered, as well.

“Parents have an unequivocal role to play in their children’s lives, but at the same time, laws and policies shouldn’t violate the rights of young people,” she said.

— With files from Maggie Macintosh

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca