(Ottawa) Jagmeet Singh does not see any difference between the use of the notwithstanding clause in the Law on State Secularism and New Brunswick and Saskatchewan’s intention to use it to shield their policies on transgender children from legal challenges. The New Democratic leader participated in a counter-demonstration on Wednesday to affirm the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s the same thing,” he replied when The Press asked him if Quebec had in some way opened the way to the trivialization of its use.
“I think this is another example of the abuse of this notwithstanding clause when the provinces use it to abrogate or violate human rights,” he said. This is a problem and it shows that we must find solutions to stop this practice. »
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs did not rule out the day before using this provision in a bill to formalize changes to Policy 713 which aimed to ensure an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students. Transgender youth can no longer change their pronoun or name at school without their parents being notified.
A position denounced by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association which launched a legal appeal.
“Threatening to invoke the notwithstanding clause amounts to admitting that the New Brunswick government knows that its actions are unconstitutional,” reacted the lawyer responsible for the equality program, Harini Sivalingam.
Saskatchewan has adopted a similar policy and Premier Scott Moe said last week he was prepared to use the notwithstanding clause. Both provinces are grappling with legal challenges.
The notwithstanding provision allows legislation to derogate from certain sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, such as the rights to equality, liberty, security and religion.
It was invoked in Quebec in the Law on State Secularism adopted by the government of François Legault in 2019.
Two demonstrations oppose each other
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Two groups of demonstrators clashed on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, a sign of the polarization sparked by the issue of gender identity.
Two groups of demonstrators clashed on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, a sign of the polarization sparked by the issue of gender identity. A line of police separated them along Wellington Street as they shouted slogans back and forth.
One Million March for Children held rallies in cities across the country to oppose pronoun changing, gender ideology, and co-ed bathrooms in schools. In Ottawa, people of Muslim and Christian faith rubbed shoulders with followers of the People’s Party of Canada.
Melanie Alexander, who was part of the group, supports the New Brunswick and Saskatchewan policies and the resolutions recently adopted at the Conservative Party of Canada convention.
“That’s what we want,” said the Christian woman. Adults can do whatever they want with their bodies while children can’t vote, drink beer, smoke or take drugs, but they can have their breasts or penises removed. This creates people who will be sick for the rest of their lives. »
She would prefer that they have access to psychological help before they reach the age of majority before consenting to medical interventions with serious consequences.
Conservative delegates adopted with a strong majority of 69.2% a resolution to ban “life-changing” medical or surgical interventions for minors to treat gender confusion or dysphoria” during their party’s convention which took place took place in Quebec, a little over a week ago. They also voted to make certain spaces, like restrooms and locker rooms, reserved for women and exclude transgender people.
This kind of policy is more likely to lead to distress, argued Kate Hurman, mother of a young transgender adult, who participated in the counter-demonstration to assert their rights. “We already know that bullying and hatred lead to suicidal thoughts,” she commented. “If they don’t reveal [leur identité de genre] to their parents, chances are it’s because they don’t feel safe,” she added, referring to the politics of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.