| Policy 713 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick | |
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| Citation |
|
| Territorial extent | New Brunswick, Canada |
| Enacted | August 17, 2020 |
| Signed by | Dominic Cardy |
| Administered by | Department of Education and Early Childhood Development |
| Summary | |
| Addresses support for LGBTQ students in public schools | |
Policy 713, also called the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy, is an education policy of the province of New Brunswick, Canada, that sets minimum requirements for public schools and districts in the province related to individuals identifying and perceived as LGBTQIA2S+.
The policy, enacted in 2020 under the province's Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and signed by then-minister Dominic Cardy, required school personnel to use students' pronouns and chosen names. The policy also required schools to provide gender-neutral bathrooms; training opportunities for teachers about LGBTQIA2S+ students; and support for Gender-Sexuality Alliance clubs, which could not require parental consent.
On April 21, 2023, Policy 713 was placed under review by the provincial government, led by New Brunswick’s premier, Blaine Higgs. After the government publicly announced in May that it would be reviewing the policy, it was criticized and protested by high school students and advocacy groups. The revised policy, released in June 2023, included changes that forbade New Brunswick teachers from using the preferred names and pronouns of students under the age of 16 without parental consent. Kelly Lamrock, the Child, Youth and Seniors' Advocate for New Brunswick, criticized the revised policy and stated it opened the province to legal risk. In response to the revision, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) filed a lawsuit against the provincial government, citing violations against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and New Brunswick's human rights and education acts.
In the aftermath of Policy 713's revision, multiple Progressive Conservative politicians elected under Higgs, such as cabinet ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), have either resigned or publicly declared they would not seek re-election in 2024. Some of these departures have made comments criticizing Higgs' leadership, with some also highlighting a growing disconnect between their personal beliefs and the party's stance.