I think it ties into the previous question. We're in an era of polarization when Canadians are having a harder time paying their bills, making ends meet and supporting their families. When you have that environment where life is harder, it becomes easier to channel that anger and to take advantage of that anger to gain power.
In Canada right now, we're seeing this language around so-called parental rights and this reference to gender ideology. We're using these as a distraction instead of delivering on healthy schools and happy kids and happy families. We are trying to restrict the rights of some and create a false equivalence. This is not about parents versus kids. It's about creating a school environment where all kids have the freedom to be themselves, are treated with dignity and are raised in healthy communities.
When we see politicians engaging with this divisive rhetoric, it cues to that playground bully that they can do the same. It encourages people to walk up to and sometimes cross that line. We've seen that across Canada with the rise of anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate.
In particular, the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause gives me great concern. In Saskatchewan, prior to allowing a court to review and look at the policies of Premier Moe, we saw this clause used. It means that one of the few checks and balances on government is now overridden. It creates an environment where, again, we're not able to have conversations that are nuanced and that require expert input on the best interests of kids and the best interests of families. It becomes a whack-a-mole or a sledgehammer, using a slogan to ramp through legislation and policies that restrict the freedom of trans kids and their families.
I think every day about the kid who isn't fortunate to be safe at home, who has their one space where they are to be themselves, their school, taken away by a government that is pretending to be invested in the well-being of families but is really cueing their support of an anti-2SLGBTQ lobby that wants to take my rights away and force my community back into the closet.
Thank you.