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The Saskatchewan Parents' Rights Act, which was passed using Article 33 of the Canadian Constitution, is the first law in Canada that can limit gender identity in schools. But the debate on the matter remains intense and the legal challenge that was raised earlier is still being pursued.

Dustin Mathis, a father of two in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, who supports the legislation, said, “Parental rights to me means being able to create a safe environment for my children to grow up. "One of the most important things is that I have control over what my children hear and learn."

But others believe the law does more harm than good.

"The problem is that this law allows all kinds of bad things to happen within the family unit — the need for control and coercion to impose traditions," said Linay Hicks, a mother in Regina whose 16-year-old son is gender non-binary.

It's torn between those who say the law is about ensuring parents are involved in a child's formative years and those who worry it could harm children and confuse parents about their real rights.

The part of the law that has drawn the most controversy is forcing school staff to get parental consent before using a student's new name or gender identity. Saskatchewan's law followed a similar policy in New Brunswick.

Policies are easier to change than laws, which require a legislative process to amend. When New Brunswick changed its 713 policy to have a similar law, several school boards wrote their own policies to effectively nullify the changes. Several councils have received provincial "corrective action" letters, but most have stuck to their policies.

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Before Saskatchewan's policy became law, critics raised legal arguments claiming the policy conflicted with sections 7 and 15 of Canada's fundamental provisions and freedoms. These sections include the right to liberty, personal security and equality rights.

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