After some protracted debates in the legislature, the NDP was successful in having a private member’s bill passed on Wednesday.

“I am so proud of what we accomplished today,” said Emily Tredger, the MLA for Whitehorse Centre, who introduced the bill.

“This bill will make schools safer for students.”

The bill requires all Yukon schools to provide inclusive spaces or activities, such as Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), for LGBTQ2S+ students and their allies.

In a news release, the NDP stated “a crowd of students, as well as teachers and a principal, carrying pride flags and wide smiles, arrived early at the legislative assembly to witness this historic moment.”

They watched the bill receive final assent.

“Bill-304 is another incredibly necessary step in the incredibly difficult journey of reaching true equality and inclusivity in Yukon schools,” said Gabe, a Yukon student.

“GSAs will make some students feel safer and provide a space where they can be themselves,” said Nari, another student.

“The work we did on this bill was started because of so many students who came to us and shared their experiences,” said Tredger.

“Since the bill was introduced, we’ve heard from even more students, parents and educators who shared how excited they were.”

The NDP said, “The LGBTQ2S+ community has faced many challenges over the years and continues to face such challenges. This bill will make school safer for LGBTQ2S+ students, regardless of which schools they attend and if administration is supportive.”

The Liberal caucus was also happy to announce it had voted in favour of the bill.

In a news release following the vote, the caucus said “the Yukon Liberals are committed to ensuring schools are safe, supportive and inclusive learning environments for all Yukon students.

“In (July) 2021, the Yukon Liberal government released the territory’s first-ever LGBTQ2S+ Action Plan that outlines a variety of initiatives aimed at making government programs and services more inclusive and accessible to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit+ (LGBTQ2S+) communities.”

The action plan contains more than 100 steps, including several focused on education and youth, such as:

• Implement Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policies and encourage schools to support Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) or similar clubs; and

• Encourage extra-curricular programming that is more inclusive of queer relationships and diverse gender identities.

“Our territory does not need division,” said Education Minister Jeanie McLean, who is also the minister of Women and Gender Equity.

“We know that we are strongest when we work together. Given the deficiencies in the approach to the engagement and the consultation when this bill was introduced by the NDP member for Whitehorse Centre, I feel confident that our government can make up the difference through implementation.

“The strong relationships that we have built over the last few years will enable us to work collaboratively with Yukoners to ensure that this policy is implemented fairly, respectfully, and inclusively,” the minister added.

“I support this bill and look forward to continuing the work of our government that we are doing to ensure that our schools are safe, caring, and inclusive.”

The Yukon Party had been less enthusiastic about the bill, arguing it needed more consultation with the public.

However, on Wednesday, party leader Currie Dixon said, “Ultimately, my view is that this bill is ensuring that there are safe spaces in our schools for LGBTQ2S+ students.

“Whatever flaws there were in the process, that seems to be the driving intent of this bill, and I support that intention. So, I will support this bill and will vote in favour of it at third reading,” Dixon said.

“I do hope that the government takes the requirement for consultation seriously and seeks input from the school community about how to implement this change.”