Young people twice as likely to say parents have no say: i.e. preferred ID

Recently, Saskatchewan joined New Brunswick in adopting a new gender and pronoun policy for schools, which would require parental consent for students who wish to change their preferred name or pronouns.

Vociferous debate has followed in both provinces, and a new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians, too, divided on what level of parental involvement is necessary when it comes to children’s preferred identification. Asked which policy they prefer for school districts, two-in-five Canadians (43%) say that parents should be informed and must give consent if a child wants to change how they identify.

One-in-seven (14%) say that the parent should have no role in this decision.

In between these two groups, another one-in-three (35%) feel that parents should be made aware of any changes that are happening at the school but that these changes should not require parental consent. Those with children younger than 18 feel more strongly about consent than those without school-aged children (48% to 41%).

Generationally, Canadians hold at times divergent views. Consider that those between the ages of 18 and 24 are twice as likely as the general population (28% to 14%) and three-times as likely as those older than 64 years of age (10%) to say that this is not an issue parents should necessarily be involved in.

In Saskatchewan, higher levels of support for both informing parents and requiring consent are noted (50%). This, likely given the population’s more conservative lean. Those who supported the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2021 federal election are twice as likely as past Liberal voters (64% to 30%) and three times as likely as past NDP voters (20%) to say parents’ consent is needed if a child wishes to change their gender identity in school. A majority of all partisans agree that parents should be informed, but many disagree as to whether consent is necessary.

BY REGION

The issue rotates on two primary axes: parental notice and consent. On the former, Canadians overwhelmingly believe parents should be informed if their child wants to change their gender identity or pronouns. Four-in-five (78%) say this. On the latter, which has formed the basis for the controversial policies in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, there is more division. More than two-in-five (43%) Canadians believe parents should also consent to their child changing gender identity at school. However, half (49%) disagree, including 14 per cent who believe the parents should neither be informed, nor should their blessing be required.

Those in Atlantic Canada are the least likely (34%) to believe parental consent should be necessary if a child wishes to change their gender identity in school and the most likely (23%) to say parents should be kept in the dark about their child’s preferred pronouns if that’s what the child wishes. At the other end of the spectrum is Saskatchewan, where half (50%) say parents should be informed and should agree to any changes to their child’s gender identity in schools.

Parents’ views

Canadians with children younger than 18 feel more strongly about requiring parental consent for identification changes, though not by an overwhelming margin. Approximately half (48%) of these parents say information and consent are both needed, compared to 41 per cent of Canadians who do not have children in this age group. Both groups tend to agree parents have the right to know about changes at school:

Politics

The school policy changes in New Brunswick sparked a spat between

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Trudeau spoke out against the policy, saying “trans kids in New Brunswick are being told they don’t have the right to be their true selves, that they need to ask permission.” Poilievre responded by telling the prime minister to stay out of provincial policy and Trudeau needed to “let parents raise kids.”

The respective party leaders reflect the political divide on the preferred policy on the matter. Two-thirds (64%) of past Conservative voters support the policies in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, believing parents should be informed and agree to the change if their child wants a new gender identity in the classroom. Those who voted Liberal and NDP in 2021 believe parents should be notified at a majority level, but are much less likely to believe schools should seek their permission.