The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission says this province has become the first jurisdiction in Canada where the Court has ordered the Government to allow for the removal of gender markers on birth certificates.

How does this differ from say, Ontario, which was recently in the news over gender designation? Because Ontario, Alberta, North West Territories, along with Newfoundland and Labrador, all allow for non-binary markers – as in M, F or X – on birth certificates, or complete removal of the markers. But this is the first time a Court has ordered allowing gender markers to be removed.

Human Rights Commissioner David Arnot says this is of great benefit to the transgender community who he feels face discrimination in many aspects of life including housing employment and even travel restrictions due to the mismatch between their gender identity and their government issued identification.

A news release from the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission states that the province admitted sections 31 and 65 of The Vital Statistics Act breached the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and has been ordered by the court to fix the infractions within 45 days. The order from the Court removed the age limit which means those under age 18 can apply for changes to the gender marker on their birth certificate.  It also requires the Government to allow for “M” and “F” to be removed.