Tantramar councillor Mike Tower was hoping to send a message to Premier Blaine Higgs about his recent changes to the province\u2019s education policy 713, which protects 2SLGBTQIA+ students in schools. The veteran councillor has a personal connection to the policy, because he has a non-binary grandchild.<\/p>\n
But on Tuesday, the majority of Tower\u2019s fellow councillors turned down his motion, citing a lack of jurisdiction and expertise on the issue.<\/p>\n
Tower\u2019s motion would have authorized the mayor to write a letter to the Premier asking him to \u201cstop to proposed changes, maintain the original policy 713, and consult with school psychologists, teachers, parents and students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three councillors voted in favour of the motion (Tower, and Councillors Josh Goguen and Allison Butcher), with the rest of council and the mayor voting against.<\/p>\n
Mayor Andrew Black kicked off debate on the motion by telling council he felt the matter was out of their jurisdiction, comparing it to the controversial French Immersion program change proposed by the Higgs government last December. Tower rejected that position, comparing it instead to a health care issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch like the hospital, when they were trying to close it down, we had to step up because it\u2019s the importance of the health of our Tantramar region,\u201d said Tower. \u201cIf we can\u2019t take that as part of our responsibility and mandate\u2026 then I think something\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillor Matt Estabrooks spoke in opposition to the motion, saying he did not feel that he or council had the expertise to weigh in on the matter, and that it would be better to wait until provincial Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock completed his review, which is due in mid August. (Lamrock is currently asking for written submissions as part of a public consultation on the issue.<\/a>)<\/p>\n Estabrooks didn\u2019t come down on either side of the policy debate. \u201cI would also be speaking against this motion if it were asking Premier Higgs to continue with his proposed changes,\u201d said Estabrooks. \u201cI feel we must respect the legislative process that has been started on this topic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not an expert by any realm of the imagination,\u201d said Councillor Allison Butcher, who runs a daycare inside the Tantramar Regional High School. \u201cBut I do know many students that this, if it follows through with the changes, will adversely affect. And I don\u2019t think that we should ever stand by when possible damage is being done to our children.\u201d<\/p>\n Butcher did comment that she liked Estabrooks\u2019 idea of waiting for the Lamrock report before sending a letter to the premier, but in the end voted in favour of Tower\u2019s motion.<\/p>\n Before councillors voted, Mayor Black chimed in one more time to say that while he didn\u2019t agree with the provincial government\u2019s changes to the policy, he felt that the jurisdictional issue trumped that. \u201cI want to make it clear that I am not happy with the changes in this policy,\u201d said Black. \u201cI don\u2019t think that it\u2019s right\u2026 That being said, I also believe that this is not something that the municipality should get our hands in as far as the jurisdiction.\u201d<\/p>\n In the end the motion was defeated by six votes to three.<\/p>\n After the meeting Councillor Tower said he was disappointed in the result, but that he doesn\u2019t expect councillors \u201cto just toe the line for me. I respect the will of council. And that\u2019s what I\u2019ll live by without any problems.\u201d<\/p>\n