Conservative B.C.-based group sees N.B.'s LGBTQ policy change as test case for Canada

The Higgs government's changes to its policy on LGBTQ students in New Brunswick's schools are drawing national attention. 

The controversy is leading at least one LGBTQ person to question whether they want to live here — while at the same time prompting some job recruiters to try to lure New Brunswickers to leave.

And a conservative Christian group based in British Columbia says the debate is a test case for its efforts to roll back school LGBTQ policies across the country.

"Provinces across the country are paying attention to what's going on in New Brunswick because these decisions will affect the rest of the country," said Tanya Gaw, the founder of Action4Canada, which has been flooding New Brunswick MLAs with emails.

"I believe that this program needs to be eradicated from the school system nationwide," Gaw said in an interview.

Education Minister Bill Hogan announced the results of the review of Policy 713 on June 7.

Among the changes is ending the obligation for teachers to respect the names and pronouns of children under 16 in the classroom — regardless of parental consent.

Wren Hicks, who grew up in Fredericton and runs a customer support department for a Montreal company, was thinking of moving back to the province to do that job remotely, until they heard about the Policy 713 review.

"Seeing some of the talking points that I'm seeing reflects stuff that we see from the States, and that's honestly terrifying," said Hicks, who identifies as non-binary and uses gender-neutral pronouns.

"And then on top of that, to be the very first place in Canada to actually roll back rights — it really makes you think, how big a portion of the province thinks like this? How many people are there that hate me without even knowing me?"

Hicks and their partner were "pretty much months away" from relocating, but sees the government's action as likely reflecting at least some level of public support.

"I hadn't considered what the sentiment was in New Brunswick around LBGTQ. Stuff like this doesn't really come up unless there's enough of a base that somebody thinks they're reaching out to." 

Haley Flaro, the executive director of Ability New Brunswick, says she was recently contacted about a job outside the province by a recruiter who guessed correctly she was unhappy about the policy changes.

"They said, 'Listen, we're watching the dialogue happening in New Brunswick. We know you're passionate about inclusion and we can tell you our province is progressive. We've moving forward, equity is important and you should come to our province,'" Flaro said.