Green leader says he'd strike deal with Liberals to oust Higgs
If PCs fall short of majority in snap election, Coon says he’d work with Holt to replace premier
The leader of the Green Party says he's prepared to make a deal with the Liberals to keep Blaine Higgs from governing if the New Brunswick premier fails to win a majority of seats in an early provincial election.
David Coon says his goal in a fall campaign will be to elect as many Green MLAs as possible.
"If that puts us in a position to negotiate with the Liberals to ensure that there'd be a government that is not led by Blaine Higgs, absolutely," Coon said.
"I certainly wouldn't negotiate with Blaine Higgs."
New
Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has hinted that he could call an
election ahead of the scheduled October 2024 date because of six
rebellious PC MLAs who could stymie his ability to pass legislation. (Stephen MacGillivray/The Canadian Press)
Coon's plan represents a shift from his approach in the aftermath of the 2018 provincial election, when no party captured a majority of seats.
The Progressive Conservatives under Higgs won 22 seats while the incumbent Liberals under Brian Gallant won 21. The Greens and the People's Alliance won three each.
That led to weeks of haggling over which of the two main parties would be able to win the confidence of the legislature and form a government.
At the time, Coon offered to negotiate with both the Liberals and the PCs.
But after Alliance Leader Kris Austin pledged to support Higgs, the PCs had the numbers to govern and didn't need Coon's support.
The Greens ultimately backed the Liberals in a confidence vote, but their combined numbers weren't enough for Gallant to stay in power.
This time, after almost five years of watching Higgs in power, Coon says he won't even entertain the idea of a deal with him — but would be willing to work with Liberal Leader Susan Holt to defeat and replace a Higgs minority government.
"As long as Blaine Higgs remains leader of the Conservative Party of this province, we would not enter into any negotiations with him in a new legislative assembly," Coon said.
"If there is a different [PC] leader, we would talk to both, absolutely. But as long as he's leader, that just leaves us with the Liberals to talk to."
Liberal
Leader Susan Holt says it's too early to discuss post-election
scenarios for a vote that may not even be happening. (Jacques
Poitras/CBC)
Holt said in a statement that it's too early to discuss post-election scenarios for a vote that may not even be happening.
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it," she said. "At this point we're focused on doing everything we can to build a team that New Brunswickers can trust."
Higgs has hinted that he could call an election ahead of the scheduled October 2024 date because of six rebellious PC MLAs who could stymie his ability to pass legislation.
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Why is that I am not surprised???
As usual, she is incapable of taking a firm position on anything. Good thing she'll never become our premier.
"The question we face is will the focus be on delivering results for New Brunswickers, or will it be 12 months of political drama causing instability and stagnation in government?" he said.
"My focus and responsibility is to the citizens of this province ensuring we continue on our path of demonstrated continuous improvement."
Elections New Brunswick said in a statement Tuesday that based on speculation in media reports, it was accelerating its preparations for the next campaign.
That includes moving the training of new returning officers, originally scheduled for March 2024, to next week.
"All I have to say is we need to find a way to respect each other and have a path forward where parents can continue to play a role in raising their kids," Higgs said. "That's it. It's as simple as that."
Guests to the fundraising event on Fredericton's Waterloo Row paid $500 for "an evening with Premier Higgs," but protesters showed up at about 4:45 p.m. and stood on the sidewalk in front of the venue, with some carrying posters in support of LGBTQ rights and others calling on Higgs to resign."
I nearly died laughing the other day as I listened to Hogan on the radio explaining why he and Higgy would not talk the protesters they are now talking to
"It's not my security so much that I worry about it, it's the people that are being paid to make sure that I'm safe. So we didn't go across the street. There's been a lot of hoopla over that."
PC MLA says Tory 'rebels' can support all government bills this fall
Ross Wetmore says legislation will pass so an early election isn’t needed
Ross Wetmore, who represents Gagetown-Petitcodiac, says he has seen a list of about 20 pieces of legislation that will be introduced in the fall and there's nothing on the list he would vote against.
That list includes bills from the departments of post-secondary education and labour, social development, transportation and infrastructure, and agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries — all departments that six "rebel" Tory MLAs once oversaw as cabinet ministers.
"What we're bringing forward in legislation is what the six of us have worked on over a number of years, and I don't foresee any problem with the legislation going through," Wetmore said in an interview.
"Certainly I have no reason to slow down any of these bills."
Along
with Wetmore, PC MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason also bucked Higgs in June on
Bill 46, legislation that would reduce the decision-making powers of
anglophone school boards. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
The six MLAs voted with the Liberal opposition in June to pass a motion calling on the child and youth advocate to hold further consultations on the government's changes to Policy 713, which supports inclusion of LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
Higgs has hinted he may call an election ahead of the scheduled October 2024 date because the uprising by the six pose a risk to his ability to pass legislation this fall.
"The question we face is will the focus be on delivering results for New Brunswickers, or will it be 12 months of political drama causing instability and stagnation in government?" the premier said in a statement this week.
"My focus and responsibility is to the citizens of this province ensuring we continue on our path of demonstrated continuous improvement."
But Wetmore says the premier doesn't need to worry about passage of the bills or the capital budget in December.
"I don't believe there's a need for an election," he said.
"I can say in confidence that the six backbenchers support the legislation that's being brought forward. We may ask some questions, but that's our job."
Higgs's office did not immediate provide a comment on what Wetmore had to say.
Wetmore's commitment goes farther than what another of the six PC MLAs, Daniel Allain, said this week.
Allain said he would support the government on confidence votes such as the budget, but that other routine legislation not treated as confidence matters should be subject to a caucus discussion.
Wetmore and PC MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason also bucked Higgs in June on Bill 46, legislation that would reduce the decision-making powers of anglophone school boards.
The two MLAs voted with the Liberals in a failed attempt to send the bill to public hearings.
The government eventually put the legislation on hold, and Wetmore said there's no indication it will return.
"If it's going to come back, it hasn't been discussed," he said, pointing out that education officials suggested at a recent committee meeting it would not return.
Wetmore had already decided not to run again in the next election before the Policy 713 controversy split the PC caucus in the spring.
He wouldn't say if Higgs alone would be responsible for an early election if it happens.
"That's a hypothetical question. Why don't you ask me if the election's been called?" he said.
Like the other rebel MLAs, Wetmore says he hasn't "officially" spoken to the premier since June.
"I'm going to say nobody has reached out to me to have a discussion," he said.
"Look, my wife and I don't agree all the time, for heaven's sake, but at the end of the day I believe that as a caucus we can listen to each others' opinions and make informed decisions and move forward from there."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Higgs threatens election to quell rebellion over Policy 713
6 ministers, 2 backbenchers denounce 'lack of process and transparency' but fall in line for key N.B. vote
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 08, 2023 1:17 PM ADT
"Former education minister Dominic Cardy, who resigned last October and was ejected from the PC caucus, said an election isn't necessary to remove Higgs from office.
He told reporters that if the premier visits Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy and asked her to dissolve the house, she should instead ask the PC caucus if another of its members could take over and lead a government with majority support in the legislature.
Cardy acknowledged that move, while possible in the parliamentary system, is rare but not out of the question.
"The lieutenant-governor's job is to ascertain whether there's anybody else who can command the majority of the house," he said.
"I'm saying there are very clearly people who could do that job. The premier has shown today he can't even command his own caucus, his own cabinet."
Anybody wonder why Higgy only booted out one rebel from his caucus?
PC rebellion still 'simmering' as MLA breaks ranks on education council bill
Tory MLA says new restrictions on DEC powers contradict premier’s rhetoric on role of parents
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 09, 2023 4:02 PM ADT
"Opposition Liberal Leader Susan Holt said Anderson-Mason's comments were "not typical … so it is a sign that there continues to be dissent in caucus.
"They're feeling a lot like New Brunswickers, I think. They're not included in the process of major legislation."
Even before Anderson-Mason's speech, Green Leader David Coon said the revolt was still "simmering" and it would be a long weekend for some Tories.
"The premier's going to have to make a decision on how he's going to actually lead a government where he's lost the confidence of so many cabinet ministers and members of his caucus."
Higgs questions MLA's motives
But Higgs told reporters Anderson-Mason had "another agenda" that he wouldn't identify.
He called her comments on a contradiction between the policy and the bill "a long reach."
"She is on her own mission and I'll leave it at that," he said.
Anderson-Mason was among the eight PC members who refused to take their seats Thursday morning after the release of the revisions to Policy 713.
They said they were expressing their "extreme disappointment in a lack of process and transparency."
The worst thing in my books he did was call an election based on his rules for the pandemic where NB was Canada's leader- he received confidence from the electorite for doing that and was re-elected. Then, he caught covid himself and when he not suffer from it, he let the testing slide way too early thinking "well, I didn't die from it, so it's not an issue." NB's total accumulated deaths now sit at 350 citizens with 1,648 hospitalizations.
Caucus chair in Moncton riding says he won’t decide until he knows who will lead PC party in 2024 campaign
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Mar 17, 2023 8:00 AM ADT
"One PC MLA said he definitely would not be running next year: Ross Wetmore of Gagetown-Petitcodiac, first elected in 2010. He didn't respond to a followup email asking him for an interview."
Too Too Funny
Case closed !!
Instead, we just get new franchise managers trying to keep the name and shake up the menu.
NB Power’s 2024-25 General Rate Application- Letter to Board - GRA Filing Date
Moore, Rob - M.P.<Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca> | Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 1:20 PM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
*This is an automated response*
Thank you for contacting the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. office. We appreciate the time you took to get in touch with our office.
If you did not already, please ensure to include your full contact details on your email and the appropriate staff will be able to action your request. We strive to ensure all constituent correspondence is responded to in a timely manner.
If your question or concern is time sensitive, please call our office: 506-832-4200.
Again, we thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Office of the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
| |
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 1:20 PM |
| To: NBP Regulatory <NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com>, "Holland, Mike (LEG)" <mike.holland@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, david.coon@gnb.ca, "Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)" <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Robert. Jones" <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, "robert.mckee" <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, "rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, "Rene.Legacy" <Rene.Legacy@gnb.ca>, dominic.cardy@gnb.ca | |
| Cc: "louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.ca" <louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.ca>, "frederic.gionet@cfib.ca" <frederic.gionet@cfib.ca>, "david.sollows@gnb.ca" <david.sollows@gnb.ca>, "Daly, Gerard" <daly@nbnet.nb.ca>, "hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com" <hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com>, "gzacher@stikeman.com" <gzacher@stikeman.com>, "Brandy.Gellner@libertyutilities.com" <Brandy.Gellner@libertyutilities.com>, "dave.lavigne@libertyutilities.com" <dave.lavigne@libertyutilities.com>, "Gilles.volpe@libertyutilities.com" <Gilles.volpe@libertyutilities.com>, John Furey <JohnFurey@fureylegal.com>, "Petrie, Jamie" <JPetrie@nbpower.com>, "Gordon, Laura" <LGordon@nbpower.com>, NBEUB/CESPNB <General@nbeub.ca>, "Young, Dave" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>, "Aherrington@lawsoncreamer.com" <Aherrington@lawsoncreamer.com>, "Dickie, Michael" <Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>, "Mitchell, Kathleen" <Kathleen.Mitchell@nbeub.ca>, Veronique Otis <Veronique.Otis@nbeub.ca>, "Colwell, Susan" <Susan.Colwell@nbeub.ca>, "dustin@emrydia.com" <dustin@emrydia.com>, Melissa Curran <Melissa.Curran@nbeub.ca>, "Vincent.musco@bateswhite.com" <Vincent.musco@bateswhite.com>, "richard.williams@gnb.ca" <richard.williams@gnb.ca>, "rdk@indecon.com" <rdk@indecon.com>, "tyler.rajeski@twinriverspaper.com" <tyler.rajeski@twinriverspaper.com>, "darcy.ouellette@twinriverspaper.com" <darcy.ouellette@twinriverspaper.com>, "Hoyt, Len" <len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>, "paul.black@twinriverspaper.com" <paul.black@twinriverspaper.com>, "tammy.grieve@mcinnescooper.com" <tammy.grieve@mcinnescooper.com>, "jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com" <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>, "shelley.wood@sjenergy.com" <shelley.wood@sjenergy.com>, "dan.dionne@perth-andover.com" <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>, "pierreroy@edmundston.ca" <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>, "pzarnett@bdrenergy.com" <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>, "rburgoyne@coxandpalmer.com" <rburgoyne@coxandpalmer.com>, "Gibson, Kevin" <KevGibson@nbpower.com>, "Porter, George" <George.Porter@nbpower.com> | |
Oh My My On 9/28/23, NBP Regulatory <NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com> wrote: > Dear Ms. Mitchell: > > Please find attached a letter from New Brunswick Power Corporation in > relation to NB Power’s 2024-25 General Rate Application. > > Kind regards, > > > > [cid:image001.png@01D9F1F7. > Corporate Regulatory Affairs > > T: 506.458.4959 > C: 506.429.8556 > nbpower.com | energienb.com > > > > > > ______________________________ > This e-mail communication (including any or all attachments) is intended > only for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed and may > contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended > recipient of this e-mail, any use, review, retransmission, distribution, > dissemination, copying, printing, or other use of, or taking of any action > in reliance upon this e-mail, is strictly prohibited. If you have received > this e-mail in error, please contact the sender and delete the original and > any copy of this e-mail and any printout thereof, immediately. Your > co-operation is appreciated. > Le présent courriel (y compris toute pièce jointe) s'adresse uniquement à > son destinataire, qu'il soit une personne ou un organisme, et pourrait > comporter des renseignements privilégiés ou confidentiels. Si vous n'êtes > pas le destinataire du courriel, il est interdit d'utiliser, de revoir, de > retransmettre, de distribuer, de disséminer, de copier ou d'imprimer ce > courriel, d'agir en vous y fiant ou de vous en servir de toute autre façon. > Si vous avez reçu le présent courriel par erreur, prière de communiquer avec > l'expéditeur et d'éliminer l'original du courriel, ainsi que toute copie > électronique ou imprimée de celui-ci, immédiatement. Nous sommes > reconnaissants de votre collaboration. > | |
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/blaine-higgs-lgbtq-protest-1.6980343
Higgs speaks with pro-LGBTQ protesters outside PC fundraising event
Protest comes a week after premier met, shook hands with '1 Million March 4 Children' protesters
"All I have to say is we need to find a way to respect each other and have a path forward where parents can continue to play a role in raising their kids," Higgs said. "That's it. It's as simple as that."
Guests to the fundraising event on Fredericton's Waterloo Row paid $500 for "an evening with Premier Higgs," but protesters showed up at about 4:45 p.m. and stood on the sidewalk in front of the venue, with some carrying posters in support of LGBTQ rights and others calling on Higgs to resign.
Higgs arrived about 30 minutes later and approached the crowd, speaking with individuals about Policy 713, which until this year allowed students to request to be referred to informally by a preferred name or pronoun at school, without the need to get permission from their parents.
Emilie Lacroix said the new policy means some children could be outed as transgender even if they come from an unsafe home. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
In what Higgs said was in the interest of parents' rights, his government changed that policy so that a student under 16 must now get consent from a parent before teachers can informally use a chosen name or pronoun.
"You're asking for them to come out to ... unsafe homes," said Emilie Lacroix, speaking directly to Higgs.
"That policy was in place to protect a few kids."
Defending the policy change, the premier said the previous version assumed that all parents would not understand their children if they came out as transgender.
"And what we're trying to have is a policy that says, 'No, not all parents are in the same boat. Not all parents are that way,'" he said.
But Antoinette Del Vasto, another protester, said children of parents who don't understand will now be at risk.
"I went to school with people who were gay and got kicked out of their house," said Del Vasto, adding that the updated policy could result in more of that happening.
Antoinette Del Vasto shook hands with Higgs before debating with him the merits of the old version of Policy 713. (Mikael Mayer/Radio-Canada)
Mitchell Goodine, another protester, told Higgs that he grew up in a home where his parents didn't accept him.
"So how can you say that parents understand their kids, when kids say they don't?" he said. "We feel like you have not listened to one side. You have listened completely to the parents from conservative families."
"I think we need to listen to a lot of people," said Higgs, moments before turning around and heading inside with Education Minister Bill Hogan after spending about 15 minutes talking with protesters.
Education Minister Bill Hogan stood near Higgs and listened as he spoke with protesters Wednesday. (Mikael Mayer/Radio-Canada)
The protest came a week after about 250 people gathered on the lawn of the New Brunswick Legislature carrying signs denouncing sex education and LGBTQ rights.
While Higgs waded into the crowd at that rally, he chose not to cross the street to meet and speak with counter-protesters who were on the opposite side.
Last week's march was one of dozens held across Canada, described by organizers as a "1 Million March 4 Children" to protest LGBTQ-inclusive education policies in the classroom, and in extracurricular settings, under the banner of parental rights.
Critics and researchers say the term "parental rights" is a misnomer because it doesn't address the concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"It's not my security so much that I worry about it, it's the people that are being paid to make sure that I'm safe. So we didn't go across the street. There's been a lot of hoopla over that."
N.B. education minister defends not greeting counter-protesters
Bill Hogan also says sexual education curriculum in schools will be reviewed
Hogan met protesters on the lawn of the New Brunswick legislature, but he and Premier Blaine Higgs did not cross the street to where counter-protesters had gathered in support of LGBTQ rights and inclusive education policies.
Higgs, in particular, has been criticized for shaking hands with protesters while not talking to nearby counter-protesters, many concerned about Hogan's changes to Policy 713, about gender identity.
The changes require teachers to get parents' consent before using the chosen pronoun or name of a student under 16.
Protesters expressed support for the changes, citing what they called "parental rights." But critics and researchers say the term "parental rights" is a misnomer because it doesn't address the concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.
On Wednesday in Saint John, after announcing a new school for the city's north end, Hogan was asked about the safety of LGBTQ students in schools after the changes and the summer of debate about them.
Hogan told reporters he believes students are safe, but some "pretty ugly things" have happened that he "doesn't support personally."
When asked what he meant by this, he said he was on the lawn of the legislature during the protest and was advised by security not to cross the street to see counter-protesters because it seemed the "temperature was pretty hot."
Hogan
greeted protesters last week at a rally in Fredericton where people
carried signs denouncing sex education and LGBTQ policies. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
"It's not my security so much that I worry about it, it's the people that are being paid to make sure that I'm safe. So we didn't go across the street. There's been a lot of hoopla over that."
"It wasn't meant to be a slam or not supporting the LGBTQ community — it was the advice that we were given by security."
Sex ed curriculum review
Hogan also said he will be reviewing the sex education curriculum.
At the protest last week, Hogan said he thinks parents should have the choice of what their children participate in terms of sex education.
Around
250 people gathered last week in in front of the legislature, many
carrying signs denouncing sex education and LGBTQ rights. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
And on Wednesday, Hogan said his department does plan on providing parents the choice as to whether they'd like their children to participate in the personal wellness part of the curriculum.
According to the online curriculum framework, personal wellness is a subject included in both elementary and middle school learning. In elementary, it includes topics like personal health habits, good work habits, emotional responses, puberty, personal hygiene and appreciation for diversity.
In middle school, the topics include mental health, career pathways, boundaries, justice and injustice, anti-discrimination, healthy sexuality and self-image, reproduction for Grade 6 and sexual health for Grades 7 and 8.
Hogan said the current plan is not to revise the curriculum, but there will be a department meeting about it.
"I've asked that we review the curriculum and make sure that what's being introduced at each age level is appropriate for that developmental age level," said Hogan.
About
100 people supporting LGBTQ rights and inclusive school policies to
protect them held a counter-protest across the street from the
legislature. Hogan says he was advised by security not to cross the
street and greet counter protesters. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"I'm pretty sure that it's right on track, but we want to make double sure about that.
"It's the other stuff that gets added in that creates the greatest angst with parents. So we're going to try and keep people using the curriculum and the supporting resources that have been identified for the curriculum."
School location announced
Hogan was in Saint John to announce that a new K-5 school will be built on the former Crescent Valley School property on Ropewalk Road. It will replace Hazen White-St. Francis and Centennial schools.
Design work will cost $2.1 million and construction $35.4 million. Hogan said the government will provide $3 million this year to support planning, design and site preparation.
He said construction will begin in the spring. The school is expected to open in September 2026.
Corrections
- An earlier version of this story provided incorrect information about the project costs and what Hogan announced. Design work will cost $2.1 million and construction $35.4 million. The new school will be on Ropewalk Road, not MacLaren Boulevard, as the original story said.Sep 28, 2023 9:04 AM AT
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PC MLA warns Higgs that early election call could backfire
Daniel Allain says single-issue 2014 campaign on shale gas led to PC defeat
Daniel Allain says parties that try to make an election about a single issue rarely succeed because voters often decide for themselves that other subjects matter more to them.
"I lived an election in 2014 on one issue, one subject. It's hard to stay on that subject for 30 days," he said, referring to a PC re-election campaign urging voters to "Say Yes" to shale gas development.
"Voters want to know about more than one issue," said Allain, who was an adviser to then-premier David Alward in 2014.
"After two weeks people were agreeing with us. However, the last two weeks, we couldn't pivot onto something else."
The Liberals went on to win that election.
Premier
Higgs waded into a crowd about 250 people on the front lawn of the
legislature last week, shaking hands with people carrying signs
denouncing sex education and LGBTQ rights. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Allain noted the Manitoba PC government is now campaigning for re-election after promising a Policy 713-like initiative, "and I don't think the PCs are doing that good."
Premier Blaine Higgs has hinted he may call an election before the scheduled October 2024 date because of dissent in his caucus triggered by his government's changes to Policy 713.
Those changes include a requirement that teachers get parental consent before allowing children under 16 to use a new name or pronoun of their choice in classrooms.
The changes are now subject to a court challenge, and Allain says that process should be allowed to go forward.
"Right now New Brunswickers want to talk about inflation, housing and health care."
Marc
Savoie, former president of the PC riding association in Moncton East,
said he resigned because he can't support both his transgender son and
Blaine Higgs. (Gilles Landry/Radio-Canada)
Higgs attended a march last week of New Brunswickers opposed to LGBTQ school policies, which prompted the acting president of the PC riding association in Allain's Moncton East constituency to resign.
Marc Savoie, the father of a transgender son, said he made the decision after Higgs went to the march and chose not to greet counter-protestors supporting LGBTQ rights.
"He never had any intentions of listening to what the other side has to say. His mind is made up," Savoie said.
"I can't support my son and support Blaine Higgs. I don't see those two aligning."
Allain wouldn't comment on Savoie's resignation but said he had been a good volunteer for the party.
Another PC riding association president, Noémie David Gauvin, also recently quit her position over Higgs's stance on Policy 713.
"I find it sad to take a step backwards after we took a few steps forward" with the original policy, she told Radio-Canada.
Seeing Higgs attend last week's march "confirmed I made the right decision by resigning," said Gauvin, who has a transgender brother.
Noémie
David-Gauvin, former president of the Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou riding
association, said she could no longer support the party following the
premier's position on Policy 713 and the rights of transgender people. (Radio-Canada)
The former local government reform minister was one of six PC MLAs who voted with the opposition Liberals in June on their motion calling for more consultation on Policy 713.
That led Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock to draft a report that concluded the Higgs changes violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the New Brunswick Human Rights Act and the Education Act.
Four of the rebellious PC MLAs were cabinet ministers. Two later resigned and the premier shuffled the other two to the backbench.
Higgs suggested earlier this month that those six defiant MLAs remain "a big concern" who could jeopardize his ability to pass legislation, a scenario that might affect his thinking on an early election.
Elections N.B. accelerates preparations
In a statement Tuesday, Higgs pointed out the legislature is scheduled to open a new session Oct. 17.
"The question we face is will the focus be on delivering results for New Brunswickers, or will it be 12 months of political drama causing instability and stagnation in government?" he said.
"My focus and responsibility is to the citizens of this province ensuring we continue on our path of demonstrated continuous improvement."
Elections New Brunswick said in a statement Tuesday that based on speculation in media reports, it was accelerating its preparations for the next campaign.
That includes moving the training of new returning officers, originally scheduled for March 2024, to next week.
About
100 people supporting LGBTQ rights and inclusive school policies to
protect them held a counter-protest across the street from the march
last week. Premier Higgs did not walk over to speak with them. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Allain said Tuesday he won't vote against the PC budget next March, which if defeated would trigger an election.
"I'm actually proud of our budgets that we did. So I hope as a party we can move on. There's some reconciliation that needs to be done. We have to talk as a group," he said.
"I hope we take that opportunity to do it, because I think New Brunswickers want to see a four-year mandate. Nobody wants an election today. It costs too much."
Whether he would vote against other PC bills would depend on what kind of consultation happens within the entire party caucus.
"There's only one person that can definitely bring the team together," he said, but added that Higgs has not spoken to him since the cabinet shuffle three months ago.
Savoie and Gauvin said they remain PC party members but would not work for the party in a campaign with Higgs as leader.
"I'm not saying I'll never come back but for the moment I can't," Gauvin said. "It would be against my values. I can't support a party whose leader takes that position [on LGBTQ issues]."
Savoie said he's still hopeful the party will return to the moderate political centre after the premier leaves.
"I truly believe it'll happen. In my heart I still believe the vast majority of party members don't see things the way Blaine Higgs does and that keeps me invested in the party," he said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
doesn't need Policy 713 to get re-elected.
In fact if I were he or anyone of his MLAs
I wouldn't even 'go there'.
Premier Higgs has shown NBers. how important
Fiscal Management is for the well being of
a Province and getting good return on Investment
displays a caring how taxpayers' dollars are spent.
of a person because of Political Stripe.
"Side issues" such as Policy 713 only serve (intentional or otherwise) to divide NB'ers. I see very little in the way of efforts to recognize that NB actually has citizens/voters north of Woodstock and Miramichi.
The "special deals" to Irving continue to be blatantly obvious (as they would also be under the Liberals) and should be eliminated.
Then we have NB Power (the NB albatross), pretty much controlled by Higgs (not good).
The time has come for a new PC leader, asap.
Daniel Allain would be a bring this party back to where it should be.
The NB Liberals still have a 1% chance at a majority and 6% chance at a minority government.
This article is smoke and mirrors.
Your actions say otherwise Mr. Higgs.
He wouldn't get my vote but the opinions from the left regarding the policy are unfortunately a minority. I wish it wasn't but it is.
Hopefully with an election called it will be just a Conservative minority which a minority is best case with any forming government and hopefully with added Green seats.
More candidates needed for municipal byelections in N.B.
Nominations deadline is Friday, 12 communities will vote Oct. 23
"It's not unusual in municipal elections for people to wait till the very last minute to see if, you know, if their neighbour is going to throw their hat in the ring, then they won't bother," said Kim Poffenroth. "But these are important positions.
"As I've said, time and again since I started this job, people on local government make a lot of important decisions that impact the day-to-day lives of their friends and neighbours."
The responsibilities of an elected local government official include deciding the municipal budget and determining the level of services such as recreation, fire, policing, snow-clearing and garbage collection.
There are now 19 vacancies in 12 different communities across the province.
New Brunswick's chief electoral officer, Kim Poffenroth, says local government service is an important job. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
A vacancy might occur for one of any number of reasons, including illness, death or a move to another local government, Poffenroth said. Some of these vacancies remain from elections held last November for newly formed communities.
In a regular election year, local government officials would serve a four-year term.
The deadline to apply with Elections New Brunswick is Friday at 2 p.m. and community members will head to the polls on Oct. 23.
Two communities in the province have more vacancies than others. In Beaurivage, which includes Richibucto, three councillors are needed, and the same goes for Hanwell, near Fredericton.
Hanwell is one of two communities that have three vacancies. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)
Fredericton Junction is also the only municipality with a vacant mayor position.
Other municipalities with vacancies are:
- Campobello Island with one.
- Grand Lake with one.
- Grand Manan with one.
- Neguac with one.
- Riverview with one.
- Southern Victoria with one.
- Sunbury-York South with one.
- Tracy with one and
- Upper Miramichi with two.
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
Higgs greets marchers opposing LGBTQ policies
Premier says his presence is about parental rights, but critics say he’s polarizing New Brunswickers
Premier Blaine Higgs and his education minister joined a noisy march against LGBTQ policies in schools on Wednesday, a decision that was quickly denounced by supporters of gay and trans rights.
Higgs waded into a crowd of about 250 people on the front lawn of the New Brunswick Legislature, shaking hands with people carrying signs denouncing sex education and LGBTQ rights.
"Nice to see you," he was heard telling one marcher.
One person the premier greeted was holding a sign that said "Stop normalizing sex and nudity." A woman Higgs spoke to carried a sign that said "I need real education, not sex."
Around 250 people gathered on the front lawn of the legislature, many carrying signs denouncing sex education and LGBTQ rights. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
About 100 people supporting LGBTQ rights and inclusive school policies to protect them held a counter-protest across the street from the march.
"I asked him if he was going to come over to this side, to get some selfies with the people over here," said Jeanne Currie of Fredericton, one of the counter-protesters with the Pride group.
"I think as the premier of the province, he should be over here as well. These people are just asking to be safe in schools. They're just asking to live their lives the way they want to live them, and no one should take that away from them."
In fact, Higgs left the legislature lawn without crossing the street to meet the counter-protestors.
"This situation is about parents and about the role parents play with their kids, and obviously that is not the position the others are taking," he explained.
The march was one of dozens held across Canada described by organizers as a "1 Million March 4 Children" protesting LGBTQ-inclusive education policies in the classroom and in extracurricular settings under the banner of parental rights.
Critics and researchers say the term "parental rights" is a misnomer because it doesn't address the concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.
At one point Wednesday morning, the marchers and the counter-protesters in Fredericton shouted loudly at each other for several minutes from sidewalks on two sides of Queen Street, with several police officers standing between them on the closed roadway.
About
100 people supporting LGBTQ rights and inclusive school policies to
protect them held a counter-protest across the street from the march. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"The premier has created a situation where New Brunswickers are yelling at each other in the streets," Opposition Liberal leader Susan Holt said on social media.
"The only way forward is listening, with love and respectful dialogue."
Green MLA Kevin Arseneau contrasted Higgs's appearance with a social media post by Nova Scotia PC Premier Tim Houston that said LGBTQ Nova Scotians "deserve to live without fear and intimidation."
"A premier and an education minister going out there and taking a side, clearly pushing this kind of division and discrimination towards part of the population … I can't help but feel disgusted," Arseneau said.
But Higgs told reporters it wasn't up to him to cool off the increasingly polarized atmosphere, arguing he had provoked a much-needed debate that others had avoided.
"The situation is pretty straightforward," he said. "It's kind of amazing that there's even a discussion of what the role of parents should be with their kids' lives."
The issue of LGBTQ content in schools became a flashpoint in the spring when Higgs made changes to the province's Policy 713.
Education
Minister Bill Hogan, who also shook hands with marchers, said there
were 'probably some extreme views that I wouldn't endorse' at the event,
but 'I do endorse parents' rights.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
After further tweaks in August, the policy is now clear that teachers will need parental consent before allowing children under 16 to use a new name or pronoun they choose in classrooms.
MLA Jeff Carr, one of six Progressive Conservatives who voted with the opposition on a Liberal motion on Policy 713 in June, said Wednesday that politicians who greet marchers at the legislature should not contribute to polarization.
"I think it is important to try to find a middle ground between whatever sides are out there, rather than continuing to allow them to divide," he said.
Sharon Lee Saulnier, one of the leaders of the march, said Higgs should go further than the changes to Policy 713 with "more investment in what's happening now," though she wouldn't specify what she wants.
Sharon
Lee Saulnier, one of the leaders of the march, said Higgs should go
further than the changes to Policy 713 with 'more investment in what's
happening now,' though she wouldn't specify what she wants. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"To be frank, it's nice to see his presence. However — there's always a however — it would be nice to see him more involved and not just show up for photo-ops," she said.
Saulnier insisted the march was not "spreading hate. We are only standing up for the children who have no voice. We are not 'anti' anything."
Higgs wouldn't tell reporters whether he agrees with marchers who said the province should go further and remove all LGBTQ discussion from schools.
"There are lots of signs that show up at rallies," he said. "My position has been clear all along. I don't believe that our education system should be teaching kids to be untruthful with their parents.
"We are going to be insistent that there's a process here where parents are informed, parents make decisions, and they decide. It's not the system deciding for them."
Queen
Street in Fredericton separated the counter-protesters from the
protesters. At one point Wednesday, the marchers and the
counter-protesters shouted loudly at each other for several minutes (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Education Minister Bill Hogan, who also shook hands with marchers, said there were "probably some extreme views that I wouldn't endorse" at the event but "I do endorse parents' rights."
He rejected, for example, a sign nearby that alleged schools were "grooming" children to become gay.
"I don't think children are being groomed in our schools, but I think we have an issue in terms of the curriculum and in terms of some individuals in our school system that take things just a little bit too far … so we're working on that and we have to deal with that."
That includes letting parents decide what kind of sex education children learn in school, he said.
Clarifications
- The headline of this story has been updated to clarify what is known about the intent of the protests.Sep 22, 2023 9:59 AM AT
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Tuesday, 19 September 2023
A snap election would give Higgs a PC Party in his own image
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FohimMcE_g&ab_channel=CharlesLeblanc
Communication New Brunswick refuse Blogger to have access to Premier Blaine Higgs!!!
A snap election would give Higgs a PC Party in his own image
Premier’s caucus critics are already marginalized. The next campaign could end their dissent for good
The six dissident PC MLAs who hoped he'd retire had those hopes dashed by his announcement last Friday that he'll stay and run for a new mandate in October 2024 — if not before.
Ironically, their main function now may be as a pretext for Higgs to dissolve the legislature earlier than scheduled and end whatever influence they may still have.
The only date for an election "at this point," the premier said last week, is the one created by fixed-date election sections of provincial law — Oct. 21, 2024.
But that law also gives the lieutenant-governor the authority to heed any request for an early election, something Higgs wouldn't rule out if the six rebels make procedural mischief with his legislation.
"We all know the situation that exists within the legislature and within our government, so obviously that remains a big concern," Higgs said.
We've heard rumours [Higgs is] preparing, that he wants an election now.
— Liberal Leader Susan Holt
The six Tory rebels, who broke ranks in a vote on Policy 713 in June, told their caucus colleagues in an Aug. 10 email that they had "no intent to disrupt our government's legislative business."
The email obtained by CBC News warned, however, that if they felt the PC caucus's role wasn't being respected, "we will stand up for what we feel is right."
Whether they'd go as far as voting against Higgs in a confidence vote isn't clear.
But the premier's comments about the uncertainty reinforce rumours that the PCs could hit the campaign trail within the next month.
"I'm getting many messages from New Brunswickers that 'he's going, he's going,'" Liberal Leader Susan Holt said last week.
"We've heard rumours he's preparing, that he wants an election now."
Another piece of evidence is feeding the speculation.
PC MLAs have been told that new party riding associations — required to reflect the redrawn boundaries of the province's 49 electoral constituencies — should be officially established by Sept. 30.
Those associations are the party entities that nominate election candidates.
But why would Higgs go early?
Liberal Leader Susan Holt says she's heard rumours that Higgs wants an election now. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Despite, or perhaps because of, the Policy 713 controversy, the premier's approval rating has inched up since the spring, as has satisfaction with the government.
In the Angus Reid Institute's quarterly survey of approval for Canadian premiers, Higgs's rating has improved from 25 per cent in March to 30 per cent this month.
More significantly, Narrative Research has had the PCs statistically tied with the opposition Liberals in voting intentions in three straight quarterly polls.
Because of how Liberal support is clustered in northern and francophone ridings, that tie could easily produce a majority PC win.
Perhaps just as tempting, pulling the trigger early would let Higgs accelerate his reshaping of the party.
Higgs inherited a caucus of PC MLAs with a range of opinions — "a diverse group," he would say, sometimes ruefully, when there was an outbreak of dissent.
Many of them had long histories in the party that put them at odds with some of his ideas and did not support him for leader.
Now the most rebellious are out of cabinet, replaced by firm loyalists, and at least some of the rebels have already said they won't run next time if Higgs is still leader.
For his part, the premier wouldn't say last week whether he'll sign their nomination papers if they did try to stay on the ballot.
"It remains to be seen where we go from there but I think it was pretty clear that several have made that decision," he said.
That will leave a more firmly pro-Higgs slate of candidates, whenever the election happens.
Unlike in 2018, when the vote produced a minority government, and 2020, when Higgs won his first majority, anyone who decides to run for the PCs next time will know exactly what to expect from him when he controls the agenda.
Should he win, a future caucus and cabinet would be more homogeneously Higgsian than ever before — a PC government created in his own image.
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2 dissident Tories say they won't destabilize N.B. legislature this fall
Premier won't rule out early election, citing caucus turmoil
Trevor Holder and Andrea Anderson-Mason both say they're not looking to make procedural mischief or bring down the government when the legislature returns next month.
Higgs said last Friday that the legislated Oct. 21, 2024, date for the next election is the only date "at this point" but added that "the situation that exists within the legislature and within our government … remains a big concern."
That was a reference to six PC MLAs, including two who quit his cabinet and two he shuffled out, who voted with the opposition Liberals on a motion about Policy 713 in June.
If those six MLAs withheld their support, Higgs wouldn't be able to pass legislation.
'The
election date as far as I'm concerned is next year and that's what I'm
basing my actions on,' says Holder, who resigned from cabinet in June
over the premier's leadership style. (Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick)
Holder, who resigned from cabinet in June over the premier's leadership style, said he had no comment on Higgs's refusal to rule out a snap election.
"The election date as far as I'm concerned is next year, and that's what I'm basing my actions on," he said.
Asked if there was any uncertainty about the government being able to pass legislation this fall, Holder answered, "None."
Anderson-Mason said Higgs seems to be suggesting "that he might not have the confidence of the House, and we all know there are very few confidence votes, one of them being the budget."
"And I've got nothing but praise for the past budgets we've introduced. … I have the same level of expectation that they will be as good as they have been in the past."
Rebel MLAS 'reached out' to Higgs
She said if Higgs is worried about losing confidence votes, "I would strongly urge him to converse with us."
The former attorney-general said she and the other rebel MLAs "reached out" to Higgs over the summer to have a conversation about the fall session, but that hasn't happened.
The full PC caucus hasn't met since the June revolt either.
Anderson-Mason
says she and the other rebel MLAs 'reached out' to Higgs over the
summer to have a conversation about the fall session, but that hasn't
happened. (New Brunswick Legislative Assembly livestream)
Both Holder and Anderson-Mason also said that their recent tough line of questioning on the legislature's public accounts committee wasn't aimed at the government but was in line with the committee's accountability role.
Anderson-Mason told reporters that media treatment of PC questioning of government departments can make it seem more "salacious" than it actually is.
"Sometimes they see it as criticism, but it's really an opportunity to learn."
Holder said during a session on Tuesday and in an interview that the approach is non-political and is "getting back to what this committee's purpose and intent always have been."
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Rallies against LGBTQ rights in schools met with counter-protests across Canada
Thousands marched for and against policies that allow gender diversity to be taught in schools
The Canadian Press · Posted: Sep 20, 2023 3:09 PM ADT
"The protests are linked to emerging policies across the country, including in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, that require young people to get parental consent before teachers can use their preferred first names and pronouns."
Higgs greets marchers opposing LGBTQ rights
Premier says his presence is about parental rights, but critics say he’s polarizing New Brunswickers
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Sep 20, 2023 4:11 PM ADT
Too Too Funny that they claim that after doing just exactly that all summer.
Cardy Removed From PC Caucus
It’s official — Dominic Cardy is no longer a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
The move comes a day after Cardy unexpectedly resigned as minister of education and early childhood development
In a letter, Premier Blaine Higgs said caucus found his conduct and actions over the last few days to be “inexcusable.”
The premier referred to a meeting with Cardy on Thursday morning where he expressed concerns about the education system and informed him of plans to remove him from the cabinet.
Higgs said he was “surprised to immediately receive your resignation letter.”
He called the content of Cardy’s resignation letter as “vindictive and misleading.”
Higgs described it as “unfortunate and hurtful” that he would choose to leave this way.
Higgs said he plans to move forward and do the hard work their team was elected to do adding he is focused on making improvements “that benefit New Brunswick in critical areas like health and education.”
He ended the letter by saying it’s important to “rise above” and stay focused on the mission at hand before signing with the words “province before politics.”
Francophone district education council seeks legal opinion on Policy 713
Anglophone councils already asking for advice on whether they can sue N.B. government
The district education council in at least one francophone school district has sought advice from Ottawa-based law firm Emond Harnden about how to respond to New Brunswick's new gender-identity school policy.
The decision comes on the heels of a decision by anglophone district education councils to hire a lawyer to help them decide whether they can sue the province over Policy 713.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has already announced it plans to sue over the policy, which the government changed this summer.
A news release this week from the Francophone Northwest district said the district education council finds itself in a difficult position on the policy.
Francine
Cyr, president of the education council in the Francophone Northwest
district, said the changes to the gender-identity policy have put the
council in a difficult position. (Mathilde Pineault/Radio-Canada)
"We are caught between the education and childhood development minister, and the child and youth advocate," Francine Cyr, the president of the district education council, said in the French-language release.
Cyr was not available for an interview Wednesday.
Education Minister Bill Hogan has changed Policy 713 to make it mandatory for teachers to get parental consent when students under 16 ask that their chosen names and pronouns be used verbally. Official name and pronoun changes for that age group have always required parental consent, and that hasn't changed.
If those younger students aren't ready to speak to their parents, they are to be encouraged to see an "appropriate professional," the policy says, to help them come up with a plan to speak to their parents.
Education Minister Bill Hogan has made several announcements this summerabout Policy 713. (CBC)
But Kelly Lamrock, the province's child and youth advocate, said in August that the changes to the gender-identity policy violate the provincial Human Rights Act, the Education Act and children's charter rights.
In the release this week, the Francophone Northwest education council said it would act in the interests of students of the district.
"It's our duty to offer them a healthy, safe and inclusive educational environment that respects their legal and fundamental rights," Cyr said.
Kelly
Lamrock, New Brunswick’s child, youth and seniors’ advocate, said the
changes to policy 713 violate the rights of children and youth. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The same district had announced in June that it would hold public consultations on the matter, but in the release, it said it decided obtaining a legal opinion was a better course of action.
Cyr said the file has evolved a lot in several weeks and council members believe that working with lawyers is the best way to make informed decisions and to best defend the interests of children and youth.
According to the news release, the Francophone Northeast and Francophone South district councils wanted lawyers to help with their 713 questions.
A spokesperson for Francophone Northeast confirmed this was the case but Francophone South did not respond to questions.
With files from Hadeel Ibrahim
DECs move to accept advocate's gender-identity policy, urge government to do the same
Councils working together to review recommended policy, but each district will have separate vote
Some district education councils in New Brunswick are moving to accept an alternative gender-identity school policy, and say the best way forward is for the province to heed legal warnings about the policy now in effect.
Anglophone South District Education Council Chair Roger Nesbitt said the council met this week and intends to vote in the policy recommended by child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock.
"I found no fault with his report and I agree with what he said," Nesbitt said.
No council has yet voted on the Lamrock idea, and their next meetings are in late August or early September.
Education Minister Bill Hogan, who changed Policy 713 this summer, has said it now makes it mandatory for school staff to deny students' request to informally change pronouns if they're under 16 and their parents don't consent.
But in a report presented this week, Lamrock found that the province's revision, with its attempt to recognize parental rights, violated children's rights and ignored advice from medical professionals and mental health experts.
He came to this conclusion after two months of consultations with parents who support the current policy, and parents who don't. He spoke with medical, educational and legal experts. He said he reviewed 500 written submissions and conducted 50 interviews.
Grade 6 would be line
All versions of the policy -- the original one passed in 2020, the one revised this summer and Lamrock's proposal — require parental consent for name and pronoun changes in official records such as report cards for kids under 16.
The original policy passed in 2020 put no age limit on respecting a child's chosen pronoun informally and verbally. Lamrock's recommended policy would allow kids to informally change their pronouns starting at Grade 6, or at about 12 years old.
Lamrock said kids 12 or older should be presumed to have capacity to make decisions that are at odds with their parents' views. The Grade 6 limit is also in policies in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, he said.
For kids under Grade 6, Lamrock said it should be up to the principal to talk to the child and decide if parents and mental health professionals need to be consulted before respecting the chosen pronoun.
Both anglophone and francophone district councils have said the best way forward is for the province to accept the recommended policy before school starts.
"We have to have something that tells us clearly what we have to do," said Ghislaine Foulem, chair of francophone north-east council.
She said she can't say for sure whether her council will vote to accept Lamrock's policy, but said they've already passed a motion that says their first priority is the student.
Higgs's concern is about parents
When Lamrock released his report, Premier Blaine Higgs and Hogan both said they need time to review the recommendations before responding. Higgs said Tuesday that the provincial policy takes precedence, but if councils want to pass their own policies, they should consider parents.
"My thought would be that parents need to play a role in that decision of the DECs. And if they have gone and asked parents, and that's been the parents decision, then I guess we'd have to understand that," Higgs said.
On Friday, Higgs did not respond to CBC questions about whether he would "understand" councils adopting Lamrock's policy, since he consulted parents. Higgs also did not answer questions about whether he's read Lamrock's report.
'We were vindicated'
Nesbitt said he's working with all four anglophone councils to see if they can adopt Lamrock's policy uniformly.
"I've gotten some responses back saying yes, they believe they're headed in that direction."
Anglophone East chair Harry Doyle said Lamrock's report was a relief.
"We were vindicated for the work that we've done, because Kelly Lamrock has come out very strongly in support of the general principles that we used," he said.
Before Lamrock's report, the majority of the province's district education councils had passed motions that would mandate respecting all children's pronouns regardless of age.
They said their duty is to protect children, and school psychologists say denying a child's chosen pronoun causes more harm than using it.
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Advocate says N.B.'s gender-identity policy violates children's rights
Kelly Lamrock was ordered to hold consultations on controversial Policy 713 for province's schools
Child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock says changes to a gender-identity policy for the New Brunswick school system violate the provincial Human Rights Act, the Education Act and children's charter rights.
In June, Education Minister Bill Hogan said he changed Policy 713 on sexual orientation and gender identity to make it mandatory to deny a request from a child under 16 to use a specific name or pronoun unless parents consent.
After a review of the policy, Lamrock said Tuesday that parents do have a right to guide their children.
But the revised policy grants parents an effective "veto" on their child's identity until they're 16, and that violates children's rights to privacy, equality and accommodation, said Lamrock, who is a lawyer and former education minister.
Premier
Blaine Higgs, attending an Aug. 15 celebration in Bouctouche on
Tuesday, said he plans on reviewing Kelly Lamrock's report in the coming
days. (Pascal Raiche-Nogue/Radio-Canada)
He said children's rights can't be ignored and have to be measured against parental rights.
"The parents do not have the right to a state apparatus to force their child to live by their values," he said in a news conference.
Premier Blaine Higgs said later that he plans to read the report over the coming days.
"I'm sure at the end of it all there's a role for parents in raising their kids in every aspect," he said. "Maybe there's something in [the report] that will help us move along, but my belief in the role of parents is certainly as it has always been."
Lamrock recommended that staff verbally respect all students' pronouns without need for parental consent if they're in Grade 6 or higher.
He suggested that if children under Grade 6 request an informal name or pronoun change, it should be up to the principal to decide if the child has enough capacity to make that decision. The principal could make a plan to help the child connect to their parents, and could consult mental health professionals if in doubt, Lamrock recommends.
Changes to official records, such as report cards, for kids under 16 have always required parental consent, and Lamrock did not recommend changes to that rule.
Lamrock's recommendations are not binding, so there's no guarantee the province will change the policy as he suggested. However, he said his recommendations can provide more certainty for district education councils making their own comprehensive policies.
Hogan previously said provincial policies take precedence, but Lamrock disagrees in this case, saying Hogan's policy is vague and unclear.
"Provincial policies takes precedence where provincial policy is clear," he said. "Where a policy is vague, the districts can fill in the details.
Lamrock wrote that parents do have a right to be able to guide their children in a manner appropriate to the child's age, maturity and development. The current policy, however, in attempting to maintain parental rights, places too many limits on children's rights, he said.
New Brunswick's Minister of Education Bill Hogan has said he wants to read the report in the coming days before responding. (Radio-Canada)
In an emailed statement, Hogan said he is not ready to comment on Lamrock's findings.
"I will be taking the necessary time to review Mr. Lamrock's report and will provide further comments only after my review is complete," he said.
Parents, experts supported parental rights but not Higgs's policy
In the spring, in an opposition motion passed by the legislature, Lamrock was ordered to conduct full consultations and review the changes Hogan made to Policy 713.
Over two months, he spoke with legal, education, mental health and medical experts, as well as parents and students. He released his report Tuesday, making 24 recommendations and suggesting new wording to the policy that he said would not break the law.
Lamrock said he heard lots of support for parental rights. In fact, no one he heard from spoke against parents, he said.
"No one opposed parents playing a large or significant role," he said. "Or to be excluded or deleted in any way."
Higgs and Hogan previously said the goal of the changes was to maintain a parent's right to know what's going on with their children in school. Hogan has previously said the goal is also to give parents power to stop children from using certain pronouns.
"If a parent doesn't want their child to be referred to as 'they,' would prefer for them to be referred to as 'she' or 'he,' that's a parent's right," he said on May 19.
Lamrock said some people who were adamantly in favour of Higgs approach and parental rights paused once they understood what the current 713 actually asks teachers to do. Lamrock gave an example of a doctor who said he's in favour of the current policy, but admitted he would never deny a child's request for a specific pronoun, even if their parents requested that.
"It is not bigoted for a parent to want to know about their child's major decision," Lamrock wrote in his 90-page report. "It is not extreme to want children to have privacy and autonomy when they are mature and old enough to exercise it."
Lamrock also said some parents who didn't want the school to use their child's chosen pronouns said "the state does not own my children."
"That is absolutely true … I must add however that we as parent also don't own our children. No one owns children," Lamrock said.
Policy 'performative,' 'moot'
Hogan's changes made it mandatory to send children under 16 to a school psychologist or social worker if they don't want to include their parents, to come up with a plan to involve those parents.
Lamrock emphasized the response from school psychologist and social workers. Those professionals said if a child was referred to them, the first thing they'd do is respect their request to use a certain name or pronoun. They said denying the child's request would automatically bring their professional competence into question because it causes harm.
Lamrock said Hogan's policy is "somewhat performative," because it can't be followed by the professionals it mentions.
"[Its] only tangible outcome is to inflict further bureaucracy … until it's rendered moot," he said.
In addition to the parental notification changes, Hogan added a minimum requirement for universal change rooms, on top of the already-mandated universal washrooms. And he removed any reference to gender identity in the section that deals with extracurricular activities.
Lamrock's report focused on parental notification, but he did recommend that "gender identity" be added back, maintaining children's right to participate in sports teams that match how they identify.
He also recommended the policy provide guidance on accessibility and quality of private universal washrooms and change rooms.
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N.B. child and youth advocate calls for reversal of 'shoddy' changes to LGBTQ policy for schools
Kelly Lamrock says policy changes are not clear, open the door for discrimination
New Brunswick's child and youth advocate is calling for the reversal of all major changes made to a policy that protects LGBTQ students.
Kelly Lamrock issued a report Monday opposing the changes made to Policy 713 by Minister of Education Bill Hogan, which outline basic requirements for a safe school environment for these students.
"The drafting here, regardless of the issue, is so shoddy and inadvertently discriminatory that it really doesn't seem to meet anybody's purposes," he said at a media scrum.
The changes included no longer making it mandatory for teachers and staff to respect the chosen names and pronouns of children under 16 without parental consent and a directive to send children who don't want to involve parents to a school mental health professional.
Minister of Education Bill Hogan says the changes to Policy 713 are meant to make the policy more fair to parents. (Radio-Canada)
When the review began in April, Lamrock said the process was "incoherent" and not based on facts, and was causing fear among students and adults. In Monday's report he said his opinion has not changed, and the results are only causing more confusion.
"That vagueness is going to be chaotic for schools and, most importantly, it's going to introduce a lot of uncertainty for children at a time they need the grownups to act with certainty," he said.
He outlined four areas that especially concern him.
Lamrock wants the line restored that requires the consent of a student before parents are contacted.
Minister of Education Bill Hogan has repeatedly said the government has no plans to out children to their parents without their consent.
However, he removed the line that said the school "must have the informed consent from the student to discuss their preferred name with the parent."
Lamrock said the obligation to respect students' chosen names and pronouns should be restored.
He said the original policy was clear: school staff should respect a child's chosen name and pronoun regardless of age and parental consultation. The government should restore this clarity, he said.
The new and old policies only explicitly require parental consent for official name changes on report cards and school systems.
According to Hogan, the policy now makes it mandatory for teachers to deny a child under 16's request to be referred to by a different name and pronoun informally in the classroom, unless a parent consents. He said this protects "parental rights" and allows the teacher to decline to use a child's chosen name or pronoun if that's against the wishes of the parent.
Hundreds of people demonstrated against the review of Policy 713 before the changes were announced by the government. (Radio-Canada)
However, the written policy is not as explicit about informal name changes.
"The policy is unclear as to whether informal kindnesses and decency are allowed or not, and this places teachers and students in a difficult spot," Lamrock wrote.
He said his office is assembling a team of lawyers to provide a legal guidance memo for school staff by the start of August.
"Where the policy is silent, here's what the law says you must do for students," he said.
He also said the way the policy is worded opens the door for discrimination, as the school now has to somehow find out if a name change is related to gender identity or just a nickname.
"If Terrance wants to be called by a nickname, it would be absurd to ask teachers to agree to use Terry but not Terri because of perceptions about the motivation," he said.
Lamrock said calling kids by their chosen name is "simple courtesy," and there is no proven harm in it. He said in fact, research shows affirmation is the best defence against serious mental health issues for trans and non-binary kids.
"It's perfectly legitimate to give teachers guidance as to when parents should be notified. That is perfectly fair," he said. "But you can't say we need rules ... for students wrestling with gender identity, but not for any other personal issue.
"What about straight students who might be dating or sexually active? What about if a student, whose parents are devout Muslim, decides she doesn't want to wear the hijab at school even though her parents wish she would?"
Mental health supports
The policy now says that if a student under 16 wants an official name or pronoun change, and doesn't want to involve their parents to obtain their consent, they should be directed to a school psychologist or social worker and come up with a plan to include the parents.
Lamrock said while it's good to make it explicit that children exploring their gender identity have some kind of mental health or adult supports in the system, the problem with this section is the term "directed."
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs previously said the policy needed to be updated with parents in mind. (CBC)
Being trans is not a mental disorder, according to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and most mental health harm comes from discrimination and transphobia.
Lamrock said any support available to trans kids shouldn't create "a conveyor belt of pressure" to either prove that their parents will harm them enough for social services to be involved or be pushed into other interventions.
He said it's possible to balance the child's interests with supporting discussions between parents and children, but the new policy "throws that balance off."
Gender identity
The new policy says all students will be able to participate in curricular and extracurricular activities that are safe and welcoming, removing the phrase "consistent with their gender identity."
Lamrock said he has seen no reason why this has been removed and should be restored as an added protection against discrimination.
He noted that he is happy that no changes were made to the section affirming students' right to choose the washroom they feel is consistent with their identity.
Minister 'disappointed,' stands by changes
In an emailed statement to CBC late Monday, Hogan said he is "disappointed" Lamrock's comments suggest the government did not undertake the review of Policy 713 "with care."
"We listened to and consulted with hundreds of New Brunswickers and made amendments based on those exact conversations," Hogan said, adding he stands by the changes.
Lamrock was also consulted on the three revisions, and his feedback "was taken into consideration," noted Hogan.
"We hold teachers in a position of public trust. Parents are our chief partners when it comes to supporting students and it is not appropriate to be using a different name than the parents," he said.
"If a teacher does not have the permission of a student's parents to use the chosen pronoun or name in a classroom, they won't be able to use that name or pronoun.
"Asking teachers to hide this from parents puts them in an extremely challenging position which I don't feel is fair to parents."
The minister reiterated that teachers will not be outing students and they can still confide in educators in confidence.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tuesday 5 September 2023
Students face uncertainty as legal battle brews over N.B.'s gender-identity policy
Re: Students face uncertainty as legal battle brews over N.B.'s gender-identity policy
Moore, Rob - M.P.<Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca> | Tue, Sep 5, 2023 at 4:59 PM |
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https://davidraymondamos3. Tuesday, 5 September 2023 Students face uncertainty as legal battle brews over N.B.'s gender-identity policy | |
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gender-identity-policy-713-pronouns-school-1.6954807
Students face uncertainty as legal battle brews over N.B.'s gender-identity policy
Province says mandatory to get parental consent before staff can use chosen names, pronouns for kids under 16
This
summer, thousands rallied against any changes to the policy that
guarantees minimum protections for LGBTQ students. The government made
several changes experts say could hurt children. (Radio-Canada) This summer, Education Minister Bill Hogan changed Policy 713 to make it mandatory to get parental consent before verbally using the chosen names and pronouns of students under 16. Official name and pronoun changes for that age group have always required parental consent, and that hasn't changed.
If those younger students aren't ready to speak to their parents, they are to be encouraged to see an "appropriate professional," the policy says, to help them come up with a plan to speak to their parents.
"If it is not in the best interest of the student, or could cause harm to them (physically or mentally), to talk with their parents, they will be encouraged to communicate with professionals for support," the policy says.
The policy does not say what should happen in the meantime — whether staff should continue to use a name and pronoun against the child's wishes, or honour the child's wishes while they work on connecting with their parents.
Hogan said staff must keep using the child's birth name and pronoun regardless of what the child says, unless parents consent.
He said if staff use a child's self-chosen name and a parent complains, they could be disciplined.
Peter Legacy, president of the teachers' association, previously said the policy "places teachers in an ethical dilemma: either they uphold a policy that dictates that they ignore advice of all professionals, or they risk sanctions from their employer."
On Tuesday, he said "teachers will always find a way to do what's right for their students, respects parents as partners and continue to make sure that our schools are welcoming and safe, inclusive spaces for everyone."
Anglophone South superintendent Derek O'Brien said "all of our learners will be respected."
"Our district certainly wants to make sure that we stay consistent with the policy. We'll stay consistent with the Education Act and the New Brunswick Human Rights Act and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms," he said.
"We will follow the policy, but provide support in the creation of plans for students in our schools."
There are already children under 16 using a different name and pronoun in some schools, according to Kelly Lamrock, the province's child and youth advocate, and it's not clear if those children will have to revert to their birth names until their parents consent.
Additionally, Hogan said the policy does not apply to nicknames. He said if teachers aren't sure if the child is asking for a nickname or changing their gender, they "can always ask."
School psychiatrists and medical experts have said these changes could increase the risk of self harm. The New Brunswick Medical Society said not honouring a child's request for a specific name and pronoun may be harmful for normal exploration, could delay a child's development and get in the way of the child finding a clear identity.
"The review was not based on scientific consultation or evidence-based data that is widely accepted by international medical expert opinion and research," the medical society said.
Three groups now planning to sue
Joe Petersen, chair of Anglophone North education council, said the four anglophone councils have retained a lawyer to find out how they can sue the province over its changes to Policy 713.
Hogan and Premier Blaine Higgs said this change is to protect "parental rights" to be involved in their children's lives.
Hogan previously said it's a parent's right to force teachers and staff to use the pronoun the parent prefers.
"If a parent doesn't want their child to be referred to as 'they,' [and] would prefer for them to be referred to as 'she' or 'he,' that's a parent's right," Hogan said.
The councils asked for funding from the province two months ago and got approval for $4,000 to get a legal opinion. Petersen said once they have that, they plan on applying for more funding to challenge "the changes that we think are wrong with Policy 713."
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association said it plans to file a lawsuit "soon."
LGBTQ advocate Gail Costello said she's also speaking to a lawyer to find out how best to challenge the policy.
DECs have alternate policies, but who will follow them?
The majority of the province's district education councils have passed policies they hope will undo the changes.
Anglophone South and East passed policies that say school personnel "shall use the chosen first name and pronoun(s) that students request. The chosen first name and pronoun(s) shall be used consistently in ways that the student has requested." Some francophone councils passed similar policies.
Education councils have the power to make policies that are "consistent with, or more comprehensive than, this provincial policy."
Hogan previously said those policies don't apply, and the provincial policy takes precedence.
However, the councils say their policies take precedence because they are more "comprehensive."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Saint John
John Montgomery
Content deactivated
David Amos
SarahRose Werner
Thursday, 18 May 2023
PC caucus rejected review of gender-identity policy once before, former minister says
PC caucus rejected review of gender-identity policy once before, former minister says
Many Tory MLAs won’t say if they agree with review or endorse premier’s comments on LGBTQ students
The Fredericton West-Hanwell MLA, who sits as an independent, said the policy on sexual orientation and gender identity "was years in the making, involved considerable grassroots engagement and has been in effect without incident for a couple of years."
He said Premier Blaine Higgs raised several concerns in 2020, "most of which were not real," and took it to the PC caucus hoping MLAs would agree to review it.
Instead, the MLAs "largely reacted with support for the policy," he said.
The review of the policy, which sets minimum requirement for making schools safe and inclusive for LGBTQ students, has triggered a wave of criticism.
New
Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs provoked criticism on Tuesday when he
said schools should not be allowed to keep a student's adoption of a new
name and pronoun secret from their parents when the student is younger
than 16. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Higgs said Tuesday he didn't act on his concerns when the policy was adopted because such policies don't get "a whole lot of air time" and don't require cabinet approval.
"I knew about it, but didn't know the particular content," said the premier, who questioned why it wasn't debated publicly at the time.
But Cardy said he sent the finished document to Higgs's office "for a final look-over" at the time and never heard back, so he signed it into effect just before the 2020 campaign.
It was only after the election that Higgs summoned him and deputy minister George Daley to a meeting to hear his concerns and then went to the PC caucus hoping to deliver a "coup de grâce," Cardy said.
Instead, the caucus was generally comfortable with the document.
"It was probably the most well-developed policy that the department had worked on in a number of years, in terms of the number of stakeholders involved and the efforts to get people's voices heard and to make sure it was done carefully," Cardy said.
Current Education Minister Bill Hogan said Wednesday he remembered no such caucus discussion after the last election and didn't recall ever discussing Policy 713 before this year.
Jill Green, minister for housing, wouldn't say if she thinks the policy should be changed. (Radio-Canada)
Housing Minister Jill Green, who co-signed a letter with Cardy in 2021 critical of the government's handling of Indigenous land declarations, wouldn't say if she recalled the caucus endorsing the policy.
"This policy has been in place for a couple of years. We're all aware of it and I'm not going to speak about what we were talking about in caucus or cabinet, of course," she said.
Green also wouldn't say if she thinks the policy should be changed.
"I strongly support children, I strongly support the safety of children, the safety of children in schools and the LGBTQSI children within the schools, and I will use my voice to continue to advocate for them," Green said.
Premier questions drag queen storytime
Higgs provoked strong criticism on Tuesday when he said schools should not be allowed to keep a student's adoption of a new name and pronoun secret from their parents when the student is younger than 16.
He did not clearly explain why he thinks parents should always know about the choice, even in cases where they may be hostile to their child's sexual orientation or gender identity.
He also questioned whether drag queen storytime events in school amounted to "promotion" of a different sexual orientation and refused to say if he thinks children would become gay after participating.
Those remarks prompted an outpouring of criticism online.
Several PC MLAs, including senior cabinet ministers Ernie Steeves, Mike Holland and Jeff Carr, would not take questions on the subject Wednesday.
Moncton South MLA Greg Turner, who chairs the PC caucus, also wouldn't comment.
Opposition Liberal Leader Susan Holt said she suspects most PC MLAs would like Policy 713 to remain as is and that the push to weaken it is coming from Higgs.
"I think his caucus is broadly supportive of the policy, of Policy 713. I don't think this is a partisan thing. I think it's more personal."
Minister of Women's Equality Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace also says she
doesn't know if Policy 713 should be changed. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Some other PC members said they supported the review.
"It's just a review. A simple review. That's all it is," said Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson. "It's nothing major to be changed."
She said she "absolutely" supports the premier.
Minister of Women's Equality Tammy Scott-Wallace said Wednesday she did not know if the policy should be changed.
She said all children need to feel safe and included at school, and parents have "a very important role to play" in their children's lives.
"I'm never afraid to have conversations. It is a new policy so I'm not afraid of the conversations circulating this past week," she said.
Review 'important' says Kris Austin
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said it's important to have the review.
He said he has to consent to his school-aged children taking a Tylenol at school, having their picture taken and going on a field trip, and the pronoun issue was no different.
Hogan and Higgs both argued Wednesday that if a child feels they're in danger at home because of their sexual orientation or gender identify or any other reason, other mechanisms exist for teachers or school staff to step in.
"If a teacher believes there is a serious danger to a student, they are required by law to notify social services," Hogan said.
Margaret
Johnson, minister of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, didn't say
whether a child's choice of pronoun should be disclosed to parents. (Radio-Canada)
Carleton-Victoria MLA Margaret Johnson, a former teacher, read a statement in the legislature Wednesday marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Johnson said she volunteered to read it as a former teacher who taught trans students.
She acknowledged to reporters that some children have relationships with their parents "that are not ideal" and agreed those students have ways to get confidential support at school.
But she didn't say whether a child's pronoun choice should have to be disclosed to parents.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"Dominic Vautour, a member of the Anglophone East district education council, called the premier's comments on Policy 713 deplorable."
Reply to Lorelei Stott
Much to my chagrin even I agree with Higgy on this 713 nonsense
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Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada<mcu@justice.gc.ca> | Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 9:24 PM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
Thank you for writing to the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Due to the volume of correspondence addressed to the Minister, please note that there may be a delay in processing your email. Rest assured that your message will be carefully reviewed. We do not respond to correspondence that contains offensive language. ------------------- Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable David Lametti, ministre de la Justice et procureur général du Canada.
Nous ne répondons pas à la correspondance contenant un langage offensant. | |
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 9:24 PM | ||||||
| To: premier@ontario.ca, oldmaison@yahoo.com, dan.bussieres@gnb.ca, andre@jafaust.com, jbosnitch@gmail.com, briangallant10@gmail.com, brian.gallant@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca, David.Coon@gnb.ca, Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, david.eidt@gnb.ca, hugh.flemming@gnb.ca, "Marco.Mendicino" <Marco.Mendicino@parl.gc.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, "Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)" <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, Alaina.Lockhart@gnb.ca, BrianThomasMacdonald@gmail.com, martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca, "andrea.anderson-mason" <andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca>, "jeff.carr" <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, "robert.mckee" <robert.mckee@gnb.ca> | |||||||
| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "Robert. Jones" <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, "Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca> | |||||||
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Thursday, 8 June 2023 Higgs threatens election over Policy 713 as 8 PCs break ranks | |||||||
The Wannabe big cheese and Chucky Baby
Higgs threatens election over Policy 713 as 8 PCs break ranks
6 ministers, 2 backbenchers denounce 'lack of process and transparency' during review
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said he was willing to call an election over changes to Policy 713, which was designed to protect LGBTQ students, as he faced a rebellion from several of his top cabinet ministers Thursday.
Six ministers and two backbench MLAs refused to attend the morning sitting of the legislature "as a way to express our extreme disappointment in a lack of process and transparency," they said in a statement.
But any chance of the government falling appeared to fizzle by mid-afternoon when all eight returned to the house for a key vote.
The statement was signed by ministers Dororthy Shephard, Trevor Holder, Daniel Allain, Arlene Dunn, Jeff Carr, Jill Green, and backbenchers Ross Wetmore and Andrea Anderson-Mason.
The eight Tories stayed away from question period less than an hour after Education Minister Bill Hogan announced the results of his review of Policy 713.
The policy, enacted in 2020 after consultations with stakeholders and experts, established minimum standards for schools to ensure a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students.
Ministers
Dororthy Shephard, Trevor Holder, Daniel Allain, Arlene Dunn, Jeff
Carr, Jill Green, and backbenchers Ross Wetmore and Andrea
Anderson-Mason said they refrained from participating in routine
business and question period Thursday 'as a way to express [their]
extreme disappointment in a lack of process and transparency.' (CBC)
Hogan's news conference laid out changes to three elements of the policy, including no longer making it mandatory for teachers and staff to respect the chosen names and pronouns of children under 16 without parental consent.
The PC rebellion by more than a quarter of Higgs's caucus became clear when the eight MLAs delivered a written statement to reporters shortly before noon.
Another change removes mention of gender identity when it comes to sports and other activities, saying only that students will be able to take part in safe and welcoming activities. A third change requires each school to have a general-neutral change room.
But that wasn't enough to end the blooming PC rebellion by more than a quarter of Higgs's caucus.
"It could potentially force an election," the premier told reporters moments after the dissidents released their statement.
He'd been asked whether he might be forced to step down but instead raised the idea of triggering a campaign.
"Would I do that? It's not without the realm of possibility. I believe that strongly in the case of finding a solution here where we do not exclude parents in their child's life."
The prospect of the PCs losing a vote in the house was real for several hours.
8 PCs return to defeat Green bill to ban shale gas
A Green Party bill to ban shale gas development was due for a second reading debate and mid-afternoon vote.
The statement by the eight PC dissidents did not say if they'd take part in that vote, but the government would need them in the house to stop the Green legislation from advancing.
By the time the Green bill came up around 2:45 p.m., all eight were back in the house, giving the government enough votes to defeat the legislation.
It wasn't clear whether they'd won any further concessions in return for their presence during a noontime caucus meeting.
Asked after a noontime caucus meeting if she would be in the house to vote, Dunn replied, "I don't know."
Allain was in the house for a committee debate on one of his bills, and Anderson-Mason told reporters she planned to fill in for Speaker Bill Oliver during the afternoon.
"It's always been about the process," she said. "For me, it's always been about the process. The process is incredibly important. It's the foundation of democracy."
Green
Party Leader David Coon and MLAs Kevin Arseneau and Megan Mitton say
Higgs has clearly lost the confidence of his caucus and should resign. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Green Leader David Coon said earlier in the day that the extraordinary move by those Tories means Higgs must resign.
"He clearly has lost the confidence of a sizeable part of his cabinet. He needs to go."
Liberal Leader Susan Holt said her party was ready for an election and her MLAs would support any no-confidence vote against the government.
"I think what we've seen today is this government is not up to the challenge of leading our education system, and not up to the challenge of leading a cabinet or a caucus," she said.
Another PC caucus member could take over, Cardy says
Former education minister Dominic Cardy, who resigned last October and was ejected from the PC caucus, said an election isn't necessary to remove Higgs from office.
He told reporters that if the premier visits Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy and asked her to dissolve the house, she should instead ask the PC caucus if another of its members could take over and lead a government with majority support in the legislature.
Cardy acknowledged that move, while possible in the parliamentary system, is rare but not out of the question.
"The lieutenant-governor's job is to ascertain whether there's anybody else who can command the majority of the house," he said.
"I'm saying there are very clearly people who could do that job. The premier has shown today he can't even command his own caucus, his own cabinet."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"But Higgs will be feeling the heat," he added. "Politically, it's never good to lose or fire a cabinet minister. And he certainly doesn't want to precipitate a caucus revolt."
Former education minister Dominic Cardy, who quit last fall over proposed changes to French immersion, says there are plenty of reasons why ministers are reluctant to resign.
"You lose a very large chunk of your salary, you lose access to a government car, different benefits," he said.
"But in the end, what's the point of this job? The point of being an elected official is to serve the people of the province."
A wave of departures could either force Higgs back to the more moderate style he adopted early in his term or push him out, Cardy said."
"Former education minister Dominic Cardy, who resigned last October and was ejected from the PC caucus, said an election isn't necessary to remove Higgs from office.
He told reporters that if the premier visits Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy and asked her to dissolve the house, she should instead ask the PC caucus if another of its members could take over and lead a government with majority support in the legislature.
Cardy acknowledged that move, while possible in the parliamentary system, is rare but not out of the question.
"The lieutenant-governor's job is to ascertain whether there's anybody else who can command the majority of the house," he said."
Higgs faces growing dissent from cabinet on LGBTQ policy review
Minister Jeff Carr says government should strengthen policies, not take away rights
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: May 25, 2023 3:30 PM ADT
The Conservative Party of Canada told us the election wasn't necessary...
Will you pay for it?
Are we basing the protection of our democracy now on the cost of elections?
Content Deactivated
“The arse is out of 'er now.”
Reply to Paula Carr
Civil liberties group concerned about 'domino effect' of LGBTQ-protection policy review
N.B. Education Minister Bill Hogan began review of Policy 713 in April, decision expected this week
The results of the review of Policy 713, which outlines minimum requirements for a safe environment for LGBTQ students, will be announced Thursday at a 9:15 a.m. news conference, which will be livestreamed by CBC News.
Harini Sivalangam, director of equality programs at the association, said they are especially concerned because of the rise of anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans sentiment in the country.
"We're also concerned about the domino effect that this may have across other jurisdictions," she said. "These policies were developed in consultation with stakeholders, and unilaterally making any changes to them is deeply concerning."
Harini
Sivalangam, director of equality programs at the Canadian Civil
Liberties Association, says lawyers will be closely reviewing any
changes to Policy 713. (Submitted by Canadian Civil Liberties Association)
Sivalangam said many provinces have almost identical policies to New Brunswick's. The move to review such a policy is unprecedented in Canada, she said, but has been seen in the United States.
"We don't see any governments trying to alter a policy that is working and is meeting the needs of students and school communities, which are trying to provide an inclusive space."
In Quebec, a group of parents, teachers and activists sent a letter to Quebec's minister of education asking him to take the same step as Higgs. They're asking to make it mandatory for teachers to tell parents if a child changes their name, pronoun or gender presentation.
In Prince Edward Island, flyers have been popping up in people's mailboxes and windshields urging parents to keep their children out of school to protest LGBTQ-protection policies.
What's under review
Two of the sections under review affirm students' rights to choose extracurricular activities and use washrooms that align with their gender identity.
A third says a principal must get the consent of a child under 16 before contacting parents to get their permission to make a name change official on school records.
Premier Blaine Higgs and Education Minister Bill Hogan have both said the rights of LGBTQ children will not be rolled back.
Concerns 'echo the claims' of anti-LGBTQ groups
The New Brunswick Women's Council has called on the province to suspend the review partly because the concerns cited are similar to those shared by transphobic and anti-LGBTQ groups.
Premier Higgs has said it's inappropriate for children in younger grades to be exposed to drag storytime. The policy does not address drag events and curriculum, and it's not clear if any school has ever had drag events as part of class.
New Brunswick Education Minister Bill Hogan says the results of the review will be announced this week. (Radio-Canada)
Hogan has also said one of the concerns driving the review is "the rights of female students and whether or not they're comfortable going into a washroom with a biological male."
The right to use the washroom that matches a person's gender identity has been protected by both the federal and provincial Human Rights Act since 2017.
Hogan began reviewing Policy 713 on April 21, suspending funding to training sessions and preventing department staff from giving presentations about it.
On May 5, a group of protesters appeared outside a New Brunswick Teachers' Association career-day event, holding signs calling educators "perverts" and sharing debunked conspiracy theories about children using litter boxes in schools. That's when the province confirmed it is reviewing the policy because of "misinterpretations and concerns."
When Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock asked the province to provide all correspondence that shows these concerns, he received copies of three emails. All three contain anti-LGBTQ sentiment, with one calling LGBTQ education "marxist ideology," and another denying that trans people exist and mentioning debunked conspiracy theories.
Sivalangam said hate against LGBTQ people has been on the rise. Just this week, the federal government announced $1.5 million for pride organizations to increase their security during events.
Protecting children from abuse
Gail Costello of Pride in Education helped implement the policy. She was a teacher for 30 years and said she's seen children kicked out of their homes, living on park benches and abused because their parents found out they were queer. She said this is why the policy says the school should check with the child before involving parents in the conversation.
Higgs cited "rights of parents to know" if their child is using a different name and pronoun in school. When asked if that means even homophobic parents, he said "I'm not distinguishing one parent from another."
The premier has also said he's questioning whether allowing transgender girls to play on girls' sports teams would affect "fairness" for non-trans players. The New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletics Association, which represents all school sports, has previously said there have been no concerns about fairness, and it's received zero complaints about trans kids in the last decade.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A branch of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association was formed in Fredericton in 1969 under President John Oliver, with about sixty members, and continued to operate until 1975. During its first year, it established a legal aid office and came to the defence of Tom Murphy, a writer for the student newspaper at the University of New Brunswick. Murphy had written a column on the recent barring of a professor from the university, Norman Strax, accusing the courts of perpetrating a mockery of justice and being tools of the corporate elite. The Fredericton CCLA flew in Alan Borovoy from Toronto to challenge the charge against Murphy of scandalizing the courts. Borovoy argued that the Crown must prove actual interference in the administration of justice, but he lost the case and Murphy spent ten days in jail.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1689249332I sent that lawyer a lot more than 3 emails since I served hard copy of my concerns upon him in 2004
Judge says defamation law will eventually tame internet
Blogger Charles LeBlanc ordered to pay $2,925 in court costs to Fredericton as lawsuit dismissed
Alan White · CBC News · Posted: Mar 21, 2017 3:00 PM ADT
N.B. minister makes 3 changes to LGBTQ-protection policy
Changes regarding self-identification, sports participation and gender-neutral washrooms take effect July 1
After weeks of controversy, New Brunswick's minister of education unveiled three changes to a policy protecting LGBTQ students in schools, including no longer making it mandatory for teachers and staff to respect the chosen names and pronouns of children under 16 without parental consent.
Bill Hogan said this will allow teachers to "maintain professionalism," and not have to "do something contrary to parents' wishes."
The review removes a line that says the school must get the student's consent before trying to get a parent's consent to change the child's name on school records. It now says if a child doesn't consent to involving parents, they should be referred to social workers or a mental health professional.
"We have no intention of telling parents about a child's gender identity if they don't wish us to do so. We're going to encourage them to speak with supportive professionals if they wish, and that's how we're going to proceed," Hogan said.
Policy 713 was enacted in 2020 after consultations with stakeholders and experts. Child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock, who previously said the entire review process was broken and "incoherent," said he is reviewing the changes and won't be making a public statement Thursday.
"I will provide a Legislative Analysis to the Assembly as per normal practice on legal changes affecting children," he said on social media.
Students
from several New Brunswick, high schools, such as this one in
Quispamsis, rallied in support of Policy 713 after the review became
public knowledge. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Hogan said this change addresses the issue of "keeping things hidden" from parents, a concern expressed by the premier after the review was announced.
Name changes on report cards a focus
Most of the changes pertain to what happens when a child requests an official name change on report cards and school systems.
The new policy has no guidelines for what happens when a child under 16 asks to go by a different name or pronoun unofficially. There is now no obligation for a teacher to use a child's chosen name in class, but no clear obligation to tell parents either.
The previous version made it clear that teachers must respect all children's chosen names and pronouns. The new version makes that obligation only relevant for students over 16.
When asked about the ambiguity this introduces, Hogan said the province won't go on a "witch hunt" and check into classrooms to see how teachers are referring to students, but this change means teachers don't have to "do something contrary to parents' wishes."
He said he understands how not using a child's chosen pronoun or name can cause "trauma," and "may not be preferred by the child," but he said there will be professionals available to "work through that while respecting parents' rights."
Gender identity reference removed
Also now gone from the policy is mention of gender identity when it comes to sports and other activities. The revision says all students will be able to participate in curricular and extracurricular activities that are safe and welcoming, removing the phrase "consistent with their gender identity."
Hogan said the organizations that govern sports and extracurricular activities already have guidelines on this and there's no reason "to get into the middle of that."
The premier had questioned whether allowing transgender girls to play on girls' sports teams would affect "fairness" for non-trans players. The New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletics Association, which represents all school sports, has previously said there have been no concerns about fairness, and it's received zero complaints about trans kids in the last decade.
Private washrooms
The third section under review affirmed students' rights to use the washroom that aligns with their gender identity, and says each school must have at least one gender-neutral washroom.
The new policy specifies that those universal washrooms be "private."
The minister also added a line that says: "Private and universal change rooms will be available in all schools."
Hogan said the results will come into effect on July 1.
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PC caucus has found a consensus on Policy 713, education minister says
Bill Hogan says Tory ministers and MLAs in ‘full support’ of direction he’ll take
Bill Hogan told reporters at the legislature that his controversial review of the policy is "almost finalized" and would be released before the end of the week.
He also suggested that any changes will be less than what some people feared.
"I think, at the end of the day, it's going to be, like, 'is that all you were talking about?'"
Caucus on board, minister says
The review provoked a split within the PC cabinet and caucus of Premier Blaine Higgs, with five ministers and two MLAs publicly expressing concerns about how the review might affect LGBTQ students.
But Hogan said Wednesday the caucus is on board after a recent meeting.
"My understanding is that they're in full support of it … [of] the direction we're going to take," he said.
Asked if that meant there was a consensus among the 29 Tory members, Hogan responded, "I would say yes."
Among the provisions under review is a section that allows students under the age of 16 to adopt new names and pronouns at school without their parents being told.
It's also looking at sections that allow a student to play on sports teams and use washrooms that align with their gender identity.
At least one cabinet minister who has dissented on the review said the situation is still fluid.
"Many discussions are happening obviously all the time," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jeff Carr.
"None of us here, I don't think, have seen any of the changes yet. It's still a moving target. Discussions will continue."
Last month Carr said governments should be there "to strengthen policies and not take away the rights of marginalized individuals."
On Wednesday he repeated his earlier comments that "my voice inside of caucus is sometimes to my own detriment, but it's loud and proud, and I'll continue to make that argument inside that room."
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said he was satisfied "so far" with what he's seen from Hogan and he has "full faith in the minister. I know he's worked hard on this."
Last
month, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jeff Carr said
governments should be there 'to strengthen policies and not take away
the rights of marginalized individuals.' (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"I mean, we'll have to continue to look at it and determine that it strikes that balance, that children are protected and that parents play a part in that as well."
Hogan said he hopes to announce the revised policy by the end of the week to "get it out of the way before the weekend arrives.
"I want New Brunswickers to understand that we respect the rights of parents and we're going to move forward and ensure that our LGBTQ+ community are protected, as they are today, and we're improving what we have," he said.
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I told ya it was tempest in a teapot
"But Higgs will be feeling the heat," he added. "Politically, it's never good to lose or fire a cabinet minister. And he certainly doesn't want to precipitate a caucus revolt."
Former education minister Dominic Cardy, who quit last fall over proposed changes to French immersion, says there are plenty of reasons why ministers are reluctant to resign.
"You lose a very large chunk of your salary, you lose access to a government car, different benefits," he said.
"But in the end, what's the point of this job? The point of being an elected official is to serve the people of the province."
A wave of departures could either force Higgs back to the more moderate style he adopted early in his term or push him out, Cardy said."
Thursday, 25 May 2023
Higgs faces growing dissent from cabinet on LGBTQ policy review
Lots of folks must see this for what it is by now
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