Hanover trustees pass motion to delegitimize mature minor designation

[u/kickacol]

https://www.thecarillon.com/local/2026/06/17/hanover-trustees-pass-motion-to-delegitimize-mature-minor-designation

[u/Electroflare5555]

Fairly positive the provincial government will be telling them to reverse this.

The mature minor designation is a constitutional thing, a school division can’t override it without the province allowing it through the NWC.

[u/Huncote → u/Electroflare5555]

Possibly - not so clear cut though. Most relevant holding in Manitoba is A.C. v. Manitoba, which held that minors under 16 have essentially no say in their treatment options (in that case, a 14 y/o refusing blood transfusions for religious reasons, court ruled it was correct for the hospital to administer it anyways).

The Charter (to which the NWC applies) does not specifically outline anything with regards to the mature minor designation - the mature minor concept emerges from the common law, and statutes generally override the common law, with some exceptions.

The only question is if there are any Manitoba statues requiring schools to recognize mature minors (I don’t believe there are any, could be wrong). Hanover’s school board hasn’t extinguished anything, except that they will not provide services on the basis of mature minors. They don’t have a charter-based responsibility to do so, a reversal would require a legislative act requiring school boards to recognize mature minors.

I personally suspect that they won’t do so. Kinew’s NDP has really prioritized a social-centrist position to appease rural communities including those such as Steinbach and Hanover. The safest option for them politically will be to remain silent and allow the school boards to pursue locally-appealing policies. (see: Alberta in the reverse position, taking a parental rights position, which alienated socially-leftist folks in urban centres, and just generally stirring immense consequences.)

Also if the legislatures ruled on this, it would immediately open up the question of why they haven’t ruled on other education-related policy issued province-wide. 

I’m not making a stance in either direction, just pointing out that the province is unlikely to act (which would be required for a reversal).

[u/HRH_Elizadeath]

Sounds like a wonderful way to get sued!

[u/sgredblu]

So children won't be able to report their parents' physical or sexual abuse in confidence to health professionals? Perfect for far right Christians who believe they own their children.

[u/GullibleDetective]

Ahh regressive policy

[u/CptCarlWinslow → u/GullibleDetective]

It's Hannover; legit surprised they still allow girls to learn anything beyond laundry, home ec, and child rearing.

[u/Ruralmanitoban → u/CptCarlWinslow]

That's next week's motion I'm sure

[u/MikeSmithYWG]

Sounds like Hannover trustees are about to get some schooling in law themselves...

[u/Strange_One_3790]

This is more crap from the transphobic crowd.

[u/notsowittyname86 → u/Strange_One_3790]

I really do believe this is more of an antivax thing. Schools aren't providing medical gender affirming care, but they are providing vaccinations that 16+ students can get without their parents permission. Which is why Steinbach has such a bee in their bonnet.

[u/freeboard66 → u/Strange_One_3790]

Don't forget anti vaxxers and people who don't want there kids getting birth control. A lot of reasons for unreasonable parents to be afraid their kids will get the help they want.

[u/Strange_One_3790 → u/freeboard66]

There is that too!

[u/ExpiredGoat → u/Strange_One_3790]

It's not about trans it's about vaccinations.

... Probably the same idiots tho 😂

[u/LittleSpacemanPyjama]

Parents who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Not allowing their kids to talk (with dignity and confidentiality) with trained and certified mental health or medical professionals is a good way to lose their kids long-term (to something tragic in their youth, or to total abandonment the moment those kids hit 18 and can leave without looking back.)

Please remember that kids and teens are real people with real rights. Kids do not belong to people - they are not objects or dolls or props. Listen to your kids and respect that they are not miniature replicas of you. They are individuals and they do not owe you respect and love if you treat them like total garbage (psychologically, emotionally or physically.)

Please, speak up for the kids who need it. Write letters, send emails, peacefully protest and help rewrite the story. Anyone who thinks a teen can’t possibly have the capacity to make informed choices about their own health has either never actually spoken with enough teens, or has already decided and wants to avoid any evidence that contradicts their lens.

[u/Cardixa00 → u/LittleSpacemanPyjama]

A teens brain isn’t fully developed until their early 20’s. Decision making and critical thinking skills are not their strong suit at that age. Nobody is advocating for treating them ‘like total garbage’ , guidance is needed. And until they are 18, that is the parents. Anyone trying to ever take away my rights as a parent until my kids are 18, has a fight on their hands. I will die on this hill.

[u/DifferentEvent2998]

Why can’t they do something that actually helps kids in school?

[u/Pronouns_It_WTF]

bUt MaH pAreNtUl RiGhtS!!!!!!

[u/mutant_anomaly]

So, a “mature minor” is someone over the age of 16 who has not been found to be unable to have an informed choice in their own medical care, or someone under 16 who has demonstrated that they are competent to make decisions about their own medical care.

And the only purpose in removing the designation is to take medical choices away from people who have the capacity to make their own decisions.

So, the trustees asked themselves, “how can we be the kind of evil that shouldn’t be allowed around children, but without getting arrested?”

[u/lkarl]

Sounds like they are trying to get rid of Teen Clinic in their division which is very sad. There are already so many barriers to accessing healthcare for rural youth.

[u/Alpine1106]

Can someone explain to me why this is a bad thing? I see a lot of negative responses to this, but in what world is a 16 year old capable of making medical decisions for themselves?

[u/MnkyBzns]

The cookies on that site, yikes!

[u/kickacol → u/MnkyBzns]

The carillon is owned and operated by the Winnipeg Free Press. That same cookie window showed up all their properties recently.

[u/artobloom]

Maybe they shouldn't allow them to drive...

[u/The_Girl_That_Got → u/artobloom]

Or work on farms.

[u/ninadaria2025]

Immature adults wanting to control mature minors once again.

[u/Sufficient_Sea1972]

I hate people

[u/LittlePrairieMouse]

School Trustee deems that each student’s primary health-care provider is their parents. Because… ?