FREDERICTON — New Brunswick students under the age of 16 who identify as trans and non-binary won’t be able to officially change their names or pronouns in school without parental consent.

Education Minister Bill Hogan made the announcement today as he unveiled his government’s highly anticipated reform to the province’s policy on sexual orientation in schools, known as Policy 713.

Policy 713, which was introduced in 2020, establishes minimum standards for schools to ensure a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students.

The new policy says the preferred first names and pronouns of students aged 16 and older will be used consistently in ways that the students request.

Hogan says the policy will also ensure that private, universal changing rooms and bathrooms will be available in all schools.

He says the changes, which come into effect July 1, were the product of consultations with hundreds of parents, families, students and advocacy groups.

The province’s decision to review Policy 713 has faced intense scrutiny, with former education minister Dominic Cardy accusing Premier Blaine Higgs of wanting to gut sex education.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.

The Canadian Press