New Brunswick

What the law allows

Medical care for minorsNo protections for kids

New Brunswick has no law restricting puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or surgeries for minors. Across Canada, Canadian Institute for Health Information data show double mastectomies on minors as young as 14. New Brunswick covers the cost through its public health plan.

National Post, 29 Sep 2023, reporting Canadian Institute for Health Information data

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Schools — names and pronounsName and pronoun rules changed

New Brunswick changed its school rule on names and pronouns, effective 1 January 2025. The change covers informal use of a student's chosen first name and pronouns, and what schools tell families. The announcement does not quote the new wording. An earlier version, from June 2023, required a parent's consent before a preferred first name was used officially for a student under 16.

Government of New Brunswick — Policy 713 revisions (19 Dec 2024)

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Government of New Brunswick — Policy 713 (8 Jun 2023)

State source

ID documentsStatement plus a health professional's letter

A person 16 or older, born in New Brunswick or living there for at least three months, can apply to change the sex on a birth certificate. They need a written statement of their gender identity and a statement from a health professional. A parent can apply for a child 15 or younger.

Government of New Brunswick — change of sex designation

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PrisonsMales can be housed in women's prisons

A male who identifies as a woman can be housed in a women's federal prison, even if his body is male and his identification still says male, unless a health or safety problem cannot be resolved. A federal count of 99 gender-diverse prisoners, from December 2017 to March 2020, found that 62 percent were males who identify as women. At the end of that count, 67 percent of that group were still in men's prisons. New Brunswick has no federal women's prison. Women sentenced federally from New Brunswick go to Nova Institution for Women in Truro.

CSC Commissioner's Directive 100 (in effect 9 May 2022); CSC research report R-442

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CSC research report R-442

State source

Key datesChanged in 2023 and 2025

On 8 June 2023, an earlier school rule required a parent's consent before a preferred first name was used officially for a student under 16. A revised rule took effect on 1 January 2025. The 2025 announcement does not quote the new wording.

Government of New Brunswick news releases

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Sources

Full record

New Brunswick is part of Canada. See Canada.

Schools. Policy 713 was revised effective 1 January 2025. The department says the revision changes the informal use of a student’s chosen first name and pronouns, and the expectations for communicating with families. The release does not set out the new wording. A June 2023 release quoted an earlier version that required parental consent before a preferred first name was used officially for a student under 16.

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What the law allows

Sources

Full record

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