Ontario affirms parents should be 'fully involved' in students’ gender changes at school—refuses to mandate with legislation

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce provided moral but not legislative support to opponents of gender ideology, saying parents must be "fully involved" if a student wants to "change" their gender identity or pronouns while in the school system.

"Parents must be fully involved and fully aware of what's happening in the life of their children. I mean, often there are health implications," Lecce said at an Aug. 28 press conference after being asked if Ontario will follow the lead of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, where schools and teachers have been told that parents will be consulted when children under the age of 16 decide on their own or at the urging of teachers to "change" their gender.

"I think we have to respect the rights of parents, recognizing that these can be life-changing decisions," he said. "I think parents want to be involved so that they can support their kids, and I think that's a really important principle that we must uphold."

Both Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are actively fighting parental exclusion policies in the schools with legislation. Children under the age of 16 must consult their parents or guardians before seeking a change in gender or pronouns.

Lecce is not prepared to go that far. "We're simply making clear as a province that we believe parents should be fully involved, fully aware of what's happening to their children," he said. "These are significant changes, and they have a right to know."

He said the province is just expecting good faith from teachers and school administrators. 

"As an overarching value system, I really do believe that parents need to be fully aware, fully engaged, and school boards need to be transparent with parents. I mean, they are the legal guardians, they love their kids, they want to be aware of what's happening in the life of their children, in their schools," he told reporters.

Lecce was less than clear when asked by reporters if the province would even issue a directive to Ontario schools to respect parental rights. 

"Parents have a right to know and we will respect parental rights," he responded. "We think boards must do the same."

As noted by The Epoch Times, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has a strict policy of parental exclusion.

"All students, including transgender and gender non‐conforming students have the right to be addressed by a preferred name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity. This is true regardless of whether the student has obtained a legal name or sex designation change," the policy states.

"All students have a right to privacy; unless specifically directed by the student, schools must keep a student's transgender/gender non‐conforming status confidential."

Saskatchewan Teachers Federation President Samantha Becotte quickly responded to the province's new policy, calling it "dangerous" to include parents in their children's lives.

twitter.com/SaskTeachersFed/status/1694109908923273416?s=20

She posted on X, "The new parental inclusion and consent policies are dangerous and a threat to the safety and well-being of students. The Federation is calling on the government to reverse this policy decision and engage in meaningful consultation with its sector partners and expert teachers."