Arrests have been reported in Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver, and Victoria where Victoria police advised people to avoid the B.C. legislature amid protests they said had become “unsafe” which prompted at least two arrests.
An arrest was also reported at a protest in Halifax, where several hundred people participated in local protests and counter-protests.
Another arrest was reported in Vancouver — where more than 1,000 people were present between the protests and counter-protests on Wednesday — but police did not immediately provide further details.
Some parents and socially conservative groups are protesting LGBTQ-inclusive education policies in the classroom and in extracurricular settings under the banner of parental rights. Critics and researchers say the term “parental rights” is a misnomer because it doesn’t address the concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.Â
Policies emerging across the country, including in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, that require young people to get parental consent before teachers can use their preferred first names and pronouns are at the heart of these protests. Those opposed to parental consent rules say the policies are a violation of children’s rights and that transgender youth should not be outed to their parents by teachers.
In Ottawa, thousands of people faced off in front of Parliament Hill, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh led a group of counter-protesters down Wellington Street. The street was closed in both directions between Elgin and Bank streets as over 1,000 people gathered for demonstrations.
Protest over gender curriculum
Protests and counter-protests took place across Canada on Wednesday over elements of sexual education curriculums, including teaching about gender identity.Â
In Hamilton, protesters marched from a local mall toward the headquarters of the local school board.
Several hundred people, a total including both those involved in the protest and counter-protest, were present, according to CBC Hamilton.
