(Updated 5:15 p.m. August 11, 2025)

CUPE is praising a decision by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal which ruled that a legal challenge to Bill 137, known as the Parent’s Bill of Rights or the pronoun law, can proceed.

Saskatchewan’s highest court says courts can decide whether the legislation is unconstitutional. This after the Saskatchewan government pushed the bill through by enacting the notwithstanding clause.

The challenge by LGBTQ+ group, UR Pride, argued the law causes irreparable harm to gender diverse youth and its case should move ahead. The law came into effect in 2023 and it requires parental consent if children under 16 want to change their names or pronouns at school.

The government contended that by using the notwithstanding clause, the challenge to the law should end. The judge ruled that courts retain jurisdiction regardless.

In a news release Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan says, “This ruling tells anyone concerned about their rights that they will not be silenced – even by a government determined to trample the Charter.”

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samanatha Becotte also reacted, stating that “Along with the intervenors, we believe that Bill 137 inflicts harm on youth, and compels teachers and education workers to inflict said harm. Being allowed to move this challenge forward to the Court of King’s Bench is a positive step for gender-diverse students and we applaud the decision.” 

The Province has since responded, as well, that it will “always protect parents’ rights to be involved in their children’s education”… and “Those parental rights were enshrined using the notwithstanding clause of the Charter and that law remains in effect.” It continued that because the matter remains before the Courts, there will be no further comment.