On September 20, in cities and towns across Canada, protesters flooded the streets. The “1 Million March 4 Children” was organized by a handful of right-wing and religious groups ostensibly united by a mission to protect children from “indoctrination and sexualization.” From Victoria to Sudbury to Charlottetown, they gathered with signs proclaiming the various dangers of godlessness, pedophilia, public schools, unions, Justin Trudeau, and COVID-19 vaccines. Other signs bore the simple message “Protect parental rights.”
The amorphous refrain of “parental rights” has been ubiquitous lately. In June, New Brunswick education and early childhood development minister Bill Hogan announced changes to the provincial LGBTQI2S+ policy that would require schools to get parental consent before allowing a child under sixteen to change their name or pronouns, saying that “parents deserve to be respected.” In August, Saskatchewan minister of education Dustin Duncan implemented a similar policy, affirming “the important role that parents and guardians have in protecting and supporting their children.” At an event in Ontario, which has not yet amended any education policies, premier Doug Ford told supporters, “Most important is the parents’ rights . . . it’s not up to the teachers, it’s not up to the school boards, to indoctrinate our kids.” In September, then Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson promised to enhance parental rights in schools but dodged questions on what precisely that would entail. And this month, Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe announced he would invoke the notwithstanding clause “to pass legislation to protect parents’ rights.”
