Saskatchewan Court Reviews School Pronoun Policy

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has reserved its decision following hearings regarding a controversial law requiring parental consent for students under 16 to change their names or pronouns in schools. This law, invoked under the notwithstanding clause to bypass certain Charter rights, has been challenged by UR Pride, which argues it causes irreparable harm to gender diverse youth. The case has garnered attention from various interveners, including human rights organizations and other provincial governments, highlighting its potential implications for similar laws across Canada. UR Pride's legal team stresses that the law forces students to come out or face misgendering, while the Saskatchewan government argues that the court lacks jurisdiction due to the use of the notwithstanding clause. The case reflects a broader societal debate about parental rights versus the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, with New Brunswick and Alberta supporting Saskatchewan's stance. The timeline for the court's decision remains uncertain.