Sex-ed

Wednesday August 31, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday August 31, 2016 Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown now says he was unaware of letter promising to scrap sex-ed curriculum OntarioÕs Progressive Conservative leader says he didnÕt know that a letter was being distributed with his name on it saying he would scrap the Liberal governmentÕs sex-ed curriculum. The letter bearing Patrick BrownÕs electronic signature was sent out last week in the east Toronto riding of Scarborough-Rouge River days before voters head to the polls Thursday in a byelection. Brown says he doesnÕt want to throw anyone in the campaign team Òunder the bus,Ó but he only saw the letter after it went out and after media reports about it emerged Friday. He now says he wants to correct the record because he will not scrap the Liberal sex-ed curriculum if he is premier after the 2018 provincial election. Brown says that there is Òsignificant oppositionÓ to the curriculum in Scarborough-Rouge River and that his position will likely cost his party votes there. The curriculum was updated last year, for the first time since 1998, but some parents complained that the government didnÕt consult them enough and others were angered by mentions of same-sex relationships, gender identities and masturbation. (Source: National Post)Êhttp://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/ontario-pc-leader-patrick-brown-now-says-he-was-unaware-of-letter-promising-to-scrap-sex-ed-curriculum Ontario, PC Party, Sex-ed, sex, education, boy, cried wolf, Patrick Brown

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 31, 2016

Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown now says he was unaware of letter promising to scrap sex-ed curriculum

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday May 31, 2016 'Freedom and respect': Conservatives strike marriage definition from party policy Conservative delegates at the party's policy convention in Vancouver have voted to strike the definition of marriage in the party's official policy document. In a 1,036-462 vote, delegates from all provinces except Saskatchewan cast majority votes in favour of no longer defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. "I think our party got a little more Canadian today," Calgary MP Michelle Rempel said after the vote. "It's a milestone and it's not just a milestone for our party, it's a milestone for all Canadians.Ó "Yes, it took us 10 years to get to this point, but I think this is something that is a beacon for people around the world who are looking at equality rights. Canada is a place where we celebrate equality.Ó The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party's official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral. Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued. "What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full participation in society?" he said, drawing applause. The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party's official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral. Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued. "What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full parti

May 31, 2016

Ontario’s Progressive Conservative leader says he didn’t know that a letter was being distributed with his name on it saying he would scrap the Liberal government’s sex-ed curriculum.

The letter bearing Patrick Brown’s electronic signature was sent out last week in the east Toronto riding of Scarborough-Rouge River days before voters head to the polls Thursday in a byelection.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

February 26, 2015

Brown says he doesn’t want to throw anyone in the campaign team “under the bus,” but he only saw the letter after it went out and after media reports about it emerged Friday.

He now says he wants to correct the record because he will not scrap the Liberal sex-ed curriculum if he is premier after the 2018 provincial election.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday March 8, 2016 Patrick Brown sees a new, inclusive Ontario PC party Taking aim at climate change, Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown is signalling his party will propose a ÒsensibleÓ price on carbon emissions. ÒWe have to do something about it,Ó he told about 1,700 delegates Saturday evening at the first PC annual meeting since taking the partyÕs helm in May. ÒSensible carbon pricing doesnÕt have to be a contribution in terms. But it cannot be a cash grab,Ó he added in a reference to Premier Kathleen WynneÕs cap and trade plan, which will add an average 4.3 cents to a litre of gasoline and $5 to homeownersÕ monthly natural gas bills. The line drew lukewarm applause and a shout of ÒnoÓ from one vocal skeptic and some groans in a crowd that came to its feet several times during the 26-minute address. ÒI spoke from the heart,Ó Brown told reporters later, noting he had briefed his MPPs about the stance and got Òpractically universalÓ support. ÒWe have a grassroots party. People are entitled to have divergent opinions. ... ItÕs healthy.Ó Although Brown did not detail how his plan would work as the party begins deliberations on an election platform for 2018 and freshens its face with a new logo, he promised a carbon tax that is Òrevenue neutralÓ to the government and will come with Òcorresponding tax cuts for individuals and businesses.Ó Promoting himself as a ÒpragmaticÓ Progressive Conservative, Brown said the Liberals, who have trounced his party in four elections since 2003, are not expecting a more nimble and canny rival than in years past, when Tory campaigns were scuppered by ideas that flopped. ÒThere is one thing that Kathleen Wynne fears more than anything else: a Progressive Conservative Party that has the courage to change,Ó he said to a standing ovation at a downtown convention centre. In a reference to the ill-fated Tim Hudak PC election promise in 2014 to cut 100,000 p

March 8, 2016

Brown says that there is “significant opposition” to the curriculum in Scarborough-Rouge River and that his position will likely cost his party votes there.

The curriculum was updated last year, for the first time since 1998, but some parents complained that the government didn’t consult them enough and others were angered by mentions of same-sex relationships, gender identities and masturbation. (Source: National Post)

 

Thursday September 10, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday September 10, 2015 Half of one Toronto schoolÕs students kept home to protest new sex-ed Parents in one Toronto community have made good on their threat to keep their children at home on the first day of school to protest the provinceÕs new sex-ed curriculum, which they say is not age appropriate. At Thorncliffe Park, where nearly all of its Grade 1 to 5 students were pulled from class during a protest staged by parents in the spring, almost half of the schoolÕs population was absent Tuesday, said a spokesman for the Toronto District School Board. Julie Lalonde was stalked by an ex-boyfriend for years. One note he left read: ÒI will always love you, you have no choice.Ó Complaints from parents have ranged from a lack of consultation with them to not wanting their kids to be taught about same-sex relationships and different gender identities. Education Minister Liz Sandals urged parents who are opposed to the curriculum to first talk to teachers and principals because there is Òa lot of misinformationÓ being circulated, but each school board does have a policy on withdrawing students from particular classes. However, she said, the majority of the feedback she has received has been positive. ÒI have never in my life been just stopped on the street by strangers so often (who) said, ÔThank you for doing this. Hang in there. We want this program.ÒÕ Premier Kathleen Wynne said in addition to thousands of school council chairs, 70 health organizations and parent groups were consulted in crafting the new curriculum, which had not been updated since 1998. ÒThis is the most widely consulted upon curriculum in the history of the province,Ó she said Tuesday. ÒWhen we write curriculum...on geography or social studies or mathematics, that kind of consultation does not happen because thatÕs not how curriculum has been historically written in the province. We felt there was a need to have a broader

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 10, 2015

Half of one Toronto school’s students kept home to protest new sex-ed

Parents in one Toronto community have made good on their threat to keep their children at home on the first day of school to protest the province’s new sex-ed curriculum, which they say is not age appropriate.

Thursday, February 26, 2015At Thorncliffe Park, where nearly all of its Grade 1 to 5 students were pulled from class during a protest staged by parents in the spring, almost half of the school’s population was absent Tuesday, said a spokesman for the Toronto District School Board.

Julie Lalonde was stalked by an ex-boyfriend for years. One note he left read: “I will always love you, you have no choice.”

Complaints from parents have ranged from a lack of consultation with them to not wanting their kids to be taught about same-sex relationships and different gender identities.

Education Minister Liz Sandals urged parents who are opposed to the curriculum to first talk to teachers and principals because there is “a lot of misinformation” being circulated, but each school board does have a policy on withdrawing students from particular classes.

However, she said, the majority of the feedback she has received has been positive.

“I have never in my life been just stopped on the street by strangers so often (who) said, ‘Thank you for doing this. Hang in there. We want this program.“’

Premier Kathleen Wynne said in addition to thousands of school council chairs, 70 health organizations and parent groups were consulted in crafting the new curriculum, which had not been updated since 1998.

“This is the most widely consulted upon curriculum in the history of the province,” she said Tuesday.

“When we write curriculum…on geography or social studies or mathematics, that kind of consultation does not happen because that’s not how curriculum has been historically written in the province. We felt there was a need to have a broader consultation with parents on this curriculum.”

Progressive Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton, who has been a staunch opponent of the curriculum, is urging Wynne to shelve the document and start over by consulting parents.

The party’s new leader, Patrick Brown, notably did not broach the issue in his statement marking the first day of school. He said last week he wants to “make sure parents have a say on how much and when.”

In the spring Sandals suggested Conservative groups were behind some of the opposition and now there are Conservative candidates campaigning in the federal election on sex-ed opposition.

“If there’s one group of people we admit we have not consulted with in a thorough sort of way, it would be federal Conservative candidates, I admit,” she said. (Source: Globe & Mail)

Tuesday May 5, 2015

Tuesday September 8, 2009Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 5, 2015

Thousands of parents keep kids home from school in sex-ed protest

Parents of thousands of elementary students across Toronto kept their children out of class Monday to protest the sex-ed portion of Ontario’s new health curriculum.

The hardest hit school was Thorncliffe Park Public School, where only about 130 children showed up for class out of the usual 1,350 — or roughly 10 per cent. At nearby Gateway Public School, some 400 students were away, nearly half the usual enrolment. At Valley Park Middle School, some 590 students were absent out of the total 950.

Thursday, February 26, 2015At Fraser Mustard, an all-kindergarten school in Thorncliffe Park, only 90 of 650 students turned up. The sex-ed curriculum doesn’t actually kick in until Grade 1.

“In Grade 1 they should be learning about the ABCs, not sex,” said Thorncliffe Park parent Lubna Awah, who kept her kindergarten son home.

“Boys are boys and girls are girls — why should they learn about a third (gender) in Grade 1?” asked Awah, who said she believes children will be encouraged to question their gender identity as early as Grade 1.

Awah said she learned much of what she is concerned about regarding the new curriculum earlier this spring on a flyer circulated by what she called a “Chinese Christian group,” because she said the school did not educate parents.

The new curriculum, endorsed by a coalition of doctors, educators, mental health experts as long overdue in an age of sexting, easy access to online pornography and a falling age of puberty, includes references to anal and oral sex in the context of warning students these alternatives to intercourse can also be risky because they can spread sexually transmitted disease, yet many protesters said they believe the curriculum encourages such behaviour. Critics have seized onto this, as well as possible explanations about masturbation that teachers would offer if asked by students, as encouraging all these behaviours — something educators have insisted in not the case. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Thursday, February 26, 2015Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, February 26, 2015

Sex education debate at Queen’s Park gets nasty

As several hundred social conservative protesters loudly rallied against Ontario’s new sex education curriculum outside the legislature, the debate inside was even more heated.

Progressive Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton (Lambton-Kent-Essex), a leadership hopeful, attacked Premier Kathleen Wynne on Tuesday for not doing enough to consult parents before implementing the new syllabus that takes effect in September.

McNaughton told the house that the premier should not be imposing views upon mothers and fathers concerned about the revised program designed to protect children by better informing them about sex.

Wynne, Ontario’s first openly lesbian premier, suggested the Tory MPP was being homophobic.

She rhetorically shot back at McNaughton that perhaps he thought she wasn’t qualified to weigh in on the subject because she’s a woman, a mother, a grandmother, a former school trustee, a past education minister or that she has a masters of education.

As Wynne thundered at the Tory member, Liberal MPPs heckled that that wasn’t “the real reason” he was complaining.

Outside the chamber, McNaughton said it was “ridiculous” to accuse him of homophobia and said the main reason the premier is unqualified is that her government faces so many scandals that are being investigated by police, including the Sudbury byelection, the ORNGE air-ambulance fiasco, and the deleted gas-plant emails affair.

He and his rival PC leadership candidates — MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa) and MP Patrick Brown (Barrie) — met with the raucous protesters, many of whom brandished anti-abortion signs. (Source: Toronto Star)