The Anglophone East District Education Council will appeal a judge’s decision throwing out its court challenge of Policy 713.
Members of the elected council met on Saturday morning and unanimously decided to move forward with appealing Friday’s decision.
Chief Justice Tracey DeWare of the Court of King’s Bench ruled the DEC does not have standing to argue the province’s school gender identity policy violates Charter rights.
“Despite this setback, the DEC firmly believes in the importance of local governance and the well-being of its students,” the council said in a statement on Saturday.
Under the updated policy, schools now require parental consent if a student under 16 wants to informally use a different name or pronoun.
The Anglophone East DEC, which represents schools in the Moncton area, argued the controversial changes made in 2023 are discriminatory and endanger students.
The court ruling came one day after it was revealed Education Minister Bill Hogan was moving ahead to dissolve the council, claiming it was using funds “in an irresponsible manner” by challenging the changes in court.
Bill Hogan received the green light from cabinet to make an application to the Court of King’s Bench, according to an order-in-council dated May 9.
That was exactly one week after the minister announced he would seek to have the elected council disbanded.
