The Regina Sexual Assault Centre is raising concerns as a new policy by the provincial government is suspending third-party organizations from sex education. 

The centre was notified that their school education programs would be put on pause due to the new policy. 

Under the policy, only teachers, professionals employed by government ministries or SHA healthcare professionals can teach sex education materials in schools. 

Lisa Miller, executive director for the Regina Sexual Assault Centre, said the material they present is age-appropriate. 

She explained that, for younger children, they teach about the right to say “No” if you are in an uncomfortable situation, who are safe adults to speak to, and that parts covered by a bathing suit are off limits to touching except for cleaning and medical exams. 

For high school-aged kids, the conversation is more direct about consent, sexting, healthy relations, and the signs of an abusive relationship. 

“None of us talk about sexual health in terms of contraception and things like that. That’s not our mandate. We do get into talking about things like consent and sexting and this decision has now impacted our ability to do that, and I think we have all shed tears over this,” Miller explained. 

Dustin Duncan, the minister of education at the time of the announcement, said the decision was partly due to a presentation by Planned Parenthood made at a Lumsden school that caused controversy. 

Duncan also said at the time that the decision was made due to complaints by parents and that parents are "needing to be notified and included in their children's education in these important areas." 

While she somewhat agreed with Duncan that parents need to be involved, she disagreed with the fact that not all parents can be trusted to be loving and protective of their children. She pointed to the fact that Saskatchewan has a high rate of child abuse and sexual abuse. 

“The province simply can’t trust all parents to be reliable and provide that information. A child being abused is very likely to be abused at home. This is deeply troubling to all of us, this decision,” Miller said. 

Miller noted that they aren't the only organizations that have been speaking out as the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation have also condemned the policy. 

While based out of Regina, the Regina Sexual Assault Centre does have a satellite office in Moose Jaw. 

The Regina Sexual Assault Centre released a statement on the decision through social media. You can read the full statement below.  

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, Discover Moose Jaw encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the Discover Moose Jaw app HERE.   

Related Stories