Gender Dysphoria Growing Because It’s Become ‘Popular and Trendy,’ NB Premier Says

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs attends a meeting of Canada’s premiers at the Marriott Chateau Champlain in Montreal on Dec. 7, 2018. (Martin Ouellet-Diotte/AFP via Getty Images)

During debate on New Brunswick’s revised education gender policy on June 15, Premier Blaine Higgs said there has been a “rapid onset of gender dysphoria” in recent years to the point it has become “popular and trendy.”

“We have a situation that’s growing because there’s such acceptance that OK, this is fine,” he said.

Higgs said there has been an “erosion of the family role,” and his Policy 713 is meant to include parents in discussions around their children’s upbringing.

The legislation states that students identifying as transgender or non-binary must now have parental consent in order to change their names within the school system. In instances where it is not in the child’s best interests to speak with parents, they will be directed “to the appropriate school professional for support.”

“We have an opportunity to have people have a balanced discussion. We have an opportunity for people to say OK, what makes sense. We’re not putting people at risk, … but we are saying that you don’t have a policy that specifically keeps secrets from parents,” he said.

He accused “activists” of pushing for society to devalue the role of parents and “shutting down” debate around the subject. He also cited the concerns surrounding puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries in children, which he said are irreversible.

“The only thing we seem to be having a debate on is whether parents should have a role in a child’s life—and especially in the developing years, the very early developing years, and we’re kind of dismissing that as not necessary,” he said.

“I just can’t accept that. … What we’re saying here is don’t exclude parents.”

Following Higgs’s comments in the legislature, cabinet minister Dorothy Shepard left the cabinet over the changes.

“I can no longer remain in your cabinet. I resign from cabinet, effective immediately,” read a letter Shepard gave to Higgs moments after the legislature voted in favour of an opposition Liberal motion on LGBTQ students in provincial schools.

Higgs has said he is willing to call a party vote on his leadership.

Heated Debate

Shepard’s departure comes as heated debate continues on Policy 713.

“We want to provide students, especially vulnerable students, with a safe space where they can learn and express themselves and grow, while ensuring parents also feel respected,” Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan said in a June 8 press release.

“A student will always have the ability to speak confidentially to a teacher and get the help they need from a supportive professional.”

Policy 713 has been controversial in Higgs’s own party, with eight Progressive Conservatives—including six ministers in his 18-member cabinet—choosing to sit out on legislative business on June 8 to protest against it. That same day, Higgs acknowledged the disagreement within the party could potentially lead to a provincial election.

The opposition motion, which was passed by the legislature on June 15, called for consultations on Policy 713 by child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock, and for a report to be released in August.

According to a May 11 poll by Leger on behalf of think tank SecondStreet.org, three out of five adults agreed that parents must be involved if their child discusses changing their gender pronouns or “transitioning” at school. SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig told The Epoch Times that the poll results weren’t surprising, and showed that the public “very much expects schools to be transparent with parents.”

Marnie Cathcart and Tara MacIsaac contributed to this report.