As he looks ahead to an election year, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says he has no intention of backing down on the issue of gender identity in schools, which this year sparked a rebellion in his own party and almost prompted a snap election. His defence of what he calls parental rights -- rules that require parents' consent before transgender or non-binary students under 16 can change the names or pronouns they use in school -- inspired imitators in other provinces. (Dec. 28, 2023)