N.B. news: School district goes to court over gender identity policy [Video]

A New Brunswick school district has gone to court to prevent the government from forcing it to apply the province’s policy on gender identity for students.

Anglophone East School District says in a preliminary motion filed this week that changes to the policy, which came into effect in July, violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution, as well as the province’s Human Rights Act and Education Act.

Policy 713 requires parents’ consent before teachers can use the preferred name or pronouns for transgender or nonbinary students under 16 years old.

“The singling out of gender diverse youth for such differential and disadvantaged treatment sends a strong and sinister message that it is permissible to discriminate against individuals on the basis of gender identity and gender expression,” the district says in the preliminary motion.

Anglophone East says Education Minister Bill Hogan has threatened to dissolve school districts if they …