The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) says it continues to have concerns with New Brunswick’s Policy 713.
Education Minister Bill Hogan is standing by the controversial changes to the gender identity policy in schools.
That is despite a recent report from the child and youth advocate that found the updated policy violates the rights of children.
“CCLA has serious concerns about the constitutionality of the changes to Policy 713 in New Brunswick and the deeply flawed process that led to these changes,” Harini Sivalingam, director of the Equality Program, said in a statement on Thursday.
Education Minister Bill Hogan said Wednesday that his department stands by the controversial changes made in June, but also acknowledged there are some areas that need to be clarified.
RELATED: N.B. makes ‘clarifications’ to Policy 713 after advocate’s report
Policy 713 has always required students to get parental consent for their preferred name and pronoun to be used for official records, however, there was nothing preventing a teacher from doing so informally.
On Wednesday, Hogan clarified that the use of names in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities is now considered to be formal, meaning it will require parental consent.
But that rule will not apply to guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers when they are supporting the students since those sessions take place in private, he said.
Hogan also clarified that students will be encouraged, rather than directed, to speak with school professionals to come up with a plan to talk with their parents about using a preferred first name — if and when they are ready.
But Sivalingam said the revisions do not address their concerns or fix the problems identified by the advocate.
“The changes to Policy 713 are discriminatory. They will harm young people when school resumes in the fall,” said Sivalingam.
“The CCLA will take every action necessary to protect the human rights of children in New Brunswick.”
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