Sask. developing framework that could let 3rd-party organizations teach sex ed. in schools

CBC
·3 min read
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says halting sexual health education presentations in school by third parties and providing funding meant to address intimate partner violence to those same organizations are separate issues. (CBC / Radio-Canada - image credit)
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says halting sexual health education presentations in school by third parties and providing funding meant to address intimate partner violence to those same organizations are separate issues. (CBC / Radio-Canada - image credit)

Saskatchewan is developing a framework that could allow some third-party organizations back into the province's schools to present on sex education.

In a statement issued Monday, the province's Ministry of Education confirmed it is reviewing "the policies and procedures for third-party organizations who present on sexual health education in classrooms."

Last year, a high school student in Lumsden picked up graphic sexual education material after a presentation from Planned Parenthood Regina.

A backlash saw the government ban all third parties from presenting on sex education at schools.

Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, says sponsors of the 2023 Nutrien Women of Distinction Awards are fully supportive of the keynote speaker being a trans woman.
Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, says sponsors of the 2023 Nutrien Women of Distinction Awards are fully supportive of the keynote speaker being a trans woman.

Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, says the province is looking at creating a framework meant to allow third-parties back into the province's schools. (Laura Sciarpelletti/CBC)

Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, said her organization has met with provincial officials, including the education minister and the justice minister, about the ban.

"We felt very strongly that it did impact our ability to address or prevent intimate partner violence in our community," she said.

Coomber-Bendtsen said the province told them it could take a full year before the framework was complete.

Funding to address abuse

The news came as the province plans to spend $42.6 million on community-based organizations that provide help to those suffering from abuse.

The funding will be spread out over three years. The announcement was made at the still-under construction YWCA Centre for Women and Families in Regina.

According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan has the highest rate of police-reported family violence of any province.

Provincial Justice Minister Bronywn Eyre said the funding shows the province is committed to addressing the issue.

"So I think it's very important to look at the number and then focus on the specific work that these amazing community-based organizations do for women, children and families across the province," she said.

Justice Minister Bronywn Eyre speaks Monday in Regina at an announcement of $42.6 million in funding for community-based organizations that provide help to those suffering from abuse.
Justice Minister Bronywn Eyre speaks Monday in Regina at an announcement of $42.6 million in funding for community-based organizations that provide help to those suffering from abuse.

Justice Minister Bronywn Eyre speaks Monday in Regina at an announcement of $42.6 million in funding for community-based organizations that provide help to those suffering from abuse. (Adam Bent/CBC)

While organizations welcomed the funding, they said that more can and should be done.

"I think that any time that you're on the radar of the government, it is a good thing," said Coomber-Bendtsen.

"Is it enough? I think there's still so much more that needs to go into it and so much more funding that needs to be there and so much more effort behind that. But it is good to know that it's a priority."

Premier Scott Moe was in attendance Monday.

He insisted that the funding and partnering with organizations addressing abuse is one of the "most important" investments that the province could make.

When asked how his government was able to trust organizations with millions in funding but not trust them enough to present in schools on sex education, he said those were two separate conversations.

"Parents have had questions about some of the material, not necessarily from the YWCA, that's being made available to their children in our schools without actually involving the parents," he said.

Education 'critical,' says Coomber-Bendtsen

Despite Moe saying there were no concerns about the YWCA's material, the organization is one of the groups banned from schools.

Coomber-Bendtsen said the YWCA's Upstander Bystander program is targeted to boys in Grade 6 and is meant to educate youth about healthy relationships with themselves and with others.

"We really felt strongly that while we ran programming for girls around healthy relationships and consent, we weren't having the same conversation with young boys," she said.

Since the ban went into place last year, the YWCA  hasn't offered the Upstander Bystander program in schools but has continued to provide it to youth groups and to corporations.

It was even provided to a group of MLAs, including Jeremy Cockrill, before he became the education minister.

Coomber-Bendtsen said the organization is hopeful the door is not yet shut on offering education in the province's classrooms.

"It is important and I would say critical, and particularly critical in working with young boys in understanding emotional literacy," she said.