Saskatchewan NDP urges province to repeal pronoun law affecting LGBTQ+ youth

People hold signs while attending rally against the Saskatchewan government's proposed legislation on pronoun policy in front of Saskatchewan legislature in Regina, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

REGINA — Saskatchewan’s Opposition is urging Premier Scott Moe to do away with the province’s pronoun law after it came into effect nearly three years ago.

NDP Leader Carla Beck says the law has had consequences, including an increase in bullying and discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth.

It comes after more than 600 letters were sent this week to Regina Public Schools, urging trustees not to comply with the law.

In October 2023, the Saskatchewan Party government used the Charter’s notwithstanding clause in the legislation, which requires parental consent for children under 16 to change their names or pronouns at school.

The clause overrides certain Charter rights for five years.

The case has made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which is to examine whether the law violates Charter rights even if it can’t be struck down.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2026.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press