N.B. education minister defends Policy 713 review as student rallies continue
CBC
New Brunswick's education minister is blaming the media for widespread public backlash over the review of Policy 713.
"The message that I've been saying hasn't been clearly heard or communicated by the press, for whatever the reason," Bill Hogan said on Friday.
Protests involving hundreds of people have taken place this week in several communities around the province. Most recently, on Friday, students from Kennebecasis Valley High and Rothesay High rallied in the Quispamsis Arts and Culture Park.
It's been happening since it was revealed the Progressive Conservative government was reviewing a policy introduced in 2020 that lays out minimum requirements for school districts to create a safe, welcoming learning environment for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Advocates for the LGBTQ community have said the policy is invaluable to protect students who are at greater risk of mental health issues, bullying, parental abuse and suicide.
"This policy certainly is a good policy," Hogan said on Information Morning Fredericton.
"We currently do protect the rights of LGBTQ … students and create safe spaces for them in an inclusive environment, and that will continue," he said.
"There is no intent to try and walk any of that stuff back."
However, at the same time, Hogan also suggested that so-called "community standards" and the wishes of parents deserve more consideration than they are currently being given.
"Notwithstanding the rights of people that are protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms … in my community, people believe that they should be informed if their child says all of a sudden they want to be referred to by a different pronoun."
Hogan said he's received emails, texts, Facebook messages, and voicemails from people complaining about Policy 713.
He once again declined to quantify those complaints, saying he didn't want to bicker over how many or which ones had formed the basis for the review.
"It's a minister's prerogative to review the policy," he said.
Hogan said questions about why he would not release the complaints deflected from "the real issue" — that being the application of Policy 713.
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