The Saskatchewan government is amending its Education Act to require schools to fly the provincial flag, with the exception of those on reserves. Schools are currently required to display the Canadian flag outside and inside, according to the provincial Education Act.
Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said they are making the changes to increase pride in the province, according to CBC News.
“I think that it’s important for all of us to be proud of the country that we live in, whether we were born here or whether we are a new Canadian, there’s a lot to be proud of in our country,” Mr. Cockrill said on Oct. 16. “Similarly we believe that there’s a lot to be proud of by living in this great province of Saskatchewan.”
He pointed out that some other provinces already had the same requirement for their schools.
“Alberta already requires their provincial flag be flown at schools,” Mr. Cockrill said. “So certainly we saw an opportunity here to add that to the legislation.”
The requirement will exclude on-reserve schools as they are not subject to the provincial Education Act.
The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Cockrill’s office but did not hear back by publication time.
Parental Rights Bill
It’s not the only change the province is making to its education system. On Oct. 12, the ruling Saskatchewan Party tabled Bill 137, dubbed the Parental Rights Bill, requiring schools to seek parental consent if a student under the age of 16 wants to change gender pronouns or identity.The bill also obliges schools to inform parents if there will be sexual health presentations made in their child’s class. Parents are required to be informed two weeks before any presentation and can withdraw their child from that event by giving written notice to the school.
Saskatchewan MLAs are debating the bill this week after the ruling party evoked the notwithstanding clause to push the legislation ahead despite legal challenges.
The UR Pride Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, an LGBT peer support group, filed a lawsuit over the proposed policy shortly after it was announced on Aug. 22.
The Court of Kings Bench of Saskatchewan granted an injunction on Sept. 28, saying the bill may put vulnerable kids at risk. Premier Scott Moe responded by saying his government would use the notwithstanding clause to move forward with the policy.
