Majority of Canadians oppose Trudeau, say teachers should inform parents of children’s gender change at school: poll

A clear majority of Canadians agree with New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs in believing that parents should be told if their children have expressed a want to change their gender identity or pronouns at school.

A Leger poll commissioned by SecondStreet.org found that 57 percent of those asked agree with Higgs.This indicates that most Canadians disagree with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s depiction of parents as "far-right" for expecting to be informed of these consequential decisions.

Only 18 percent of those surveyed said parents should not be informed about their children potentially transitioning their gender.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has reversed a provincial policy that would have allowed children under 16 to change genders without telling their parents. Higgs told reporters he won’t budge from the policy because it is "taking a strong position for families."

The poll appears to be a public endorsement of that policy.

"When it comes to informing parents about gender issues involving their children, the government appears to be on the same page with the majority of New Brunswickers," SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig told the National Post.

Support for parents and the premier was consistent along the lines of region, age and gender.

The same poll also queried respondents about whether schools should have to put gender identity curriculum and Critical Race Theory material on their websites before offering it to students: less than half, at 47 percent, said yes.

Trudeau called parents "far-right" for expecting to know what choices their children are making about their gender.

"Far-right political actors are trying to outdo themselves with the types of cruelty and isolation they can inflict on these already vulnerable people," the prime minister said. "Right now, trans kids in New Brunswick are being told they don’t have the right to be their true selves, that they need to ask permission."

"Trans kids in New Brunswick are being told they don't have the right to be their true selves, that they need to ask permission," Trudeau said June 9 while at an event promoting the "Rainbow Railroad" program that seeks place LGBTQ "refugees" in Canada.

"Well, trans kids need to feel safe, not targeted by politicians," Trudeau continued.

"We have to stand against this. We have to stand up for the freedoms we believe in and continue our work of letting love be louder than hate."

But Higgs said Trudeau is not respectful of parents’ rights.

twitter.com/premierbhiggs/status/1667651294683602944?s=20

"Once again Justin Trudeau shows he does not support the role of parents in guiding their children’s future. Susan Holt and Justin Trudeau do not believe that parents need to be involved in such critical discussions as gender identity, even in elementary aged children as young as 4 years old. With the changes we’ve made, Policy 713 achieves this balance,"  Higgs tweeted.