Almost a week ago, Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced the end of co-ed toilets in public primary and secondary schools, after the CAQ had set up a committee of wise men, headed by Family Minister Suzanne Roy, last December to look into this and other gender-identification issues. Julie Lemieux, president of the board of LGBTQ2+ Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and mayor of Très-Saint-Rédempteur, doesn't understand this hasty decision.

In an interview with Néomédia, Ms. Lemieux considers that the newly-built mixed-use washrooms with walls from bottom to top, and completely enclosed, really did respect privacy more than the old washrooms open at the top and bottom.

"Even if the proportion of trans and non-binary people is estimated at one-tenth of 1 percent of 100% of the population, the fact remains that, in my opinion, mixed-use toilets benefit everyone," believes the chair of the board.

She adds, "There's no space in the unisex washrooms where young people could position themselves to intimidate anyone."

"I think some people got offended by the belief that mixed-use restrooms only favored trans and non-binary people, but that's not the case-it serves everyone," she believes.

According to the Board Chair, this is partly due to the polarization of a certain segment of the population towards the right, and an irritation with trans and non-binary people.

She believes, as do many, that Mr. Drainville moved too fast, gave in to certain pressures, and should have waited for the report of the Committee of Wise Men due in 2025.

"I would have liked to have heard from the students: do they prefer co-ed toilets? We don't know.

Ms. Lemieux also points out that it would have been interesting to have a trans person join the Wise Persons' Committee. "I know Ms. Roy, I'm the oldest trans elected representative (11 years) in the world. I think my contribution could have been useful," she concludes.