“Parental rights” headlines dominated the news in 2023 with governmental policies in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan changing the way gender diverse youth can express themselves at school. Both provinces required parental consent in order for teachers and administrators to use a student’s preferred pronouns and name. It was the start of a contentious debate across the country with rallies and protests both for and against the policies taking place in many provinces.
Alberta’s government joined the fray in 2024 and took things a step further, announcing a ban on gender affirming care for anyone under the age of 16 and preventing trans women from participating in sports across the province. All this in the name of “parental rights” – a rallying cry used over decades to advocate for an anti-LGBTQ2S+ agenda, that is seeing a resurgence now. Xtra partnered with TVO’s Unravelled to guide you through how we got here, what it means for kids and parents and what is next for these policies and legislation in Canada.
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