Questions surrounding the Saskatchewan Party’s change room policy continued to be asked on Monday.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe said last Thursday that if his party wins the 2024 election his first order of business would be to make sure students who are biologically male would be required not to use the girl’s change room.
“If you are a biological male you’re not going to be in a change room changing alongside biological females,” said Moe.
He added the rule would also apply the other way around and it would be an order sent by the education minister to school divisions.
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Last week, Moe told reporters he learned of a complaint about two biological males changing for gym class with girls at a southeast Saskatchewan school.
Speaking to reporters on Monday in Martensville a week out from Election Day, Moe doubled down on his party’s stance.
“Listen, this is not a topic or policy I brought up. I answered a question in Regina and I answered that question very specifically with respect to what the policy (change room policy) of the Saskatchewan Party is,” Moe said.
“It’s a policy that is grounded in the fact that we will endeavour to support each and every student in each and every classroom, in each and every school, and every community across this province.”
Moe denied the policy was targeted at a specific situation involving an NDP MLA and their family.
“No. I had said at each and every time that I’ve been asked that this should not be a discussion about people. I said that the first time, I’ve said that every other time and I won’t be part of discussing any individuals involved in this,” Moe said.
“What happened is I was asked a question from the media gallery and I was very clear in what the policy of this party was. I think any party or candidate that’s vying for public office for any other party should be just as clear about what their party policy is.”
Moe said the first time he officially heard of the situation regarding the incident involving specific children was when he was asked about it at the news conference.
NDP Leader Carla Beck last week accused Moe of stoking fear and division with voters and making vulnerable kids more at risk with the policy.
Beck called the move the most ugly kind of politics and said such rules would make already vulnerable kids more vulnerable.
Moe’s promise also comes one year after the Saskatchewan Party government passed a law requiring parental consent for children under 16 to use different names or pronouns at school.
Beck told reporters this week her party would repeal the law if it wins the provincial election.
— with files from Canadian Press, and Lisa Schick 980 CJME
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