Parental rights legislation being prepared for Sask. fall sitting

The Saskatchewan government is preparing to take another step when it comes to parental rights.

Premier Scott Moe teased in the speech at his dinner Thursday evening, saying his government will bring forward legislation in the fall sitting on parental rights. Posting on social media Friday, he added that it would be the first thing the government will bring up in the upcoming sitting.

In light of some criticism and court challenges funded by out of province interest groups, our government has been asked if we are serious about protecting parents’ rights in education or if we plan to back down.

Last night, I answered that question.

We are not backing down.… pic.twitter.com/j5ZBfJ7GCz

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) September 8, 2023

Moe’s office declined to elaborate on what the legislation might contain, however, saying the details would come out in “due course.”

Moe and his ministers have repeatedly framed the recent policy changes around sexual health education and chosen name and pronouns in schools as matters of parental rights and pushed to get parents more involved in schools.

The changes require parents to be notified of the content of sexual health classes, allow parents to remove children from those classes, and require parental consent for a child under 16 years old to change their names or pronouns in school – the latter raising significant controversy in the province.

The fall sitting begins Oct. 25.

Upon hearing about the plans from the premier, Sask. NDP leader Carla Beck said she’s disappointed, but not surprised.

“If we were going to see legislation come forward – or anything come forward in the province with regard to schools – I would hope it would be around improving learning in schools, improving funding for schools, ensuring that we have teachers and students that have the supplies that they need that parents who need supports for their kids,” said Beck.

The opposition leader said Moe’s government doesn’t seem to want to try and solve problems, and instead wants to inflame divisions in the province.

“That’s not going to improve learning for kids and that’s not going to improve the job situation. It’s not going to improve the economic position in this province,” said Beck.