A recent report from Statistics Canada reveals a decline in acceptance of gender diversity in Canada. The survey conducted in 2025 showed that 77% of women and 70% of men agreed that individuals should have the freedom to express their gender as they wish, down from 85% of women and 78% of men in 2018.
In Saskatchewan, only 69% of women and 60% of men supported gender diversity, marking the province with the lowest acceptance rates in the country. Specifically, women in Saskatchewan showed a 14-percentage-point decrease from 2018, when 83% agreed with gender expression freedom.
Legislation passed by the provincial governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta since 2018, such as Saskatchewan’s Parents’ Bill of Rights enacted in 2023, may have contributed to the decrease in acceptance. Wayne Bernakevitch, the founder of the Regina Civic Awareness Action Network, suggested that confusion and fear could be driving factors behind the declining acceptance of gender diversity.
Political figures play a pivotal role in shaping societal attitudes, with Leah Hamilton, a professor at Mount Royal University, highlighting how politicians historically target marginalized groups during times of resource competition. Corinne Mason, another professor at the university, emphasized the scapegoating of marginalized communities by conservative politicians.
The survey by Statistics Canada, conducted between October 2024 and July 2025, coincided with the American election, potentially influencing the attitudes observed. Jack Saddleback, a political commentator, pointed out the impact of the U.S. election on Canadian sentiments towards gender diversity.
The politicization of trans and gender diverse individuals in Saskatchewan’s recent provincial election was cited by j wallace skelton, an associate professor at the University of Regina, as a factor in the declining support. Despite these challenges, skelton emphasized the importance of pushing back against hate and supporting the inclusion and safety of gender diverse individuals within communities.