Policy 713

In May 2023, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development under the Higgs government revealed that it was putting Policy 713 under review due to “concerns and misunderstandings of its implementation”[3] as well as “hundreds of complaints from across the province, some with concerns about the age-appropriateness of teaching students about gender identity” as later claimed by department minister Bill Hogan. According to an investigation published by New Brunswick Child, Youth and Seniors’ Advocate Kelly Lamrock, the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate has discovered no written complaints about the Policy made by teachers or students.[4] Lamrock also noted that he was only shown four emails by the department containing complaints made by parents regarding the situation: one from the father of a trans child, who mentioned wanting the policy strengthened, and three that, according to Lamrock, lacked credibility.[5]

Another reason for the review of this policy, as later stated by Higgs on May 16, was that parents “deserve to be aware if their child goes by a different name or pronouns in school, even if the child hasn’t come out to them.” Higgs also considered it problematic for a child to “purposely” hide their identity, in response to the policy, according to Higgs, allowing an individual under the age of 16 to go by a new name without parental knowledge.[6]

Public disclosure of this review occurred after a sexual orientation and gender identity learning session for teachers, from which Hogan distanced the department in a media statement.[7] According to Connie Keating, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, protesters arrived at one of the locations of these learning sessions as a result of misinformation spread on social media.[8] Among them were 15 - 20 protesters who carried signs bearing messages such as "shame on teachers" and "perverts in education".[9] After the protest, Hogan denied any departmental involvement with the session, redirecting questions to the New Brunswick Teachers' Association.[3]

Hogan initially did not give any reason for the review under questioning by the Liberal and Green parties in the legislature, including Liberal MLA Francine Landry, who questioned the need for a policy so recently established to be put under review.[10]

Former Minister of Education Dominic Cardy shared his belief that Premier Higgs personally ordered the policy to be reviewed, driven by a desire to put restrictions on sex education.[11]