Ford says it's important parents are informed about children's decisions amid debate over pronouns in schools
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says it is important that parents are informed "when their children make a decision" amid an ongoing debate over students' preferred pronouns in school.
"It's not up to the teachers. It's not up to the school boards to indoctrinate our kids," the premier said during his speech at Ford Fest in Kitchener on Friday.
"It's the parents' responsibility to hear what the kids are doing and not the school boards. I can't even figure out what school boards do nowadays, by the way."
His remarks echoed what Education Minister Stephen Lecce said last week about the issue of a child choosing to use a different pronoun at school.
"I think we understand though that parents must be fully involved and fully aware of what's happening in the life of their children," Lecce said on Aug. 28.
"I mean, often there are health implications, and I think we have to respect the rights of parents and recognize that these can be life-changing decisions, and I think parents want to be involved so that they can support their kids. And I think that's a really important principle that we must uphold."
The minister prefaced his comments by saying that schools should be safe for all children. He noted that teachers and school boards take home environments into account "where there are exceptional circumstances" or "situations of potential harm to the child."
The debate over gender pronouns in schools comes in the wake of Saskatchewan joining New Brunswick in legislating parental consent for students under the age of 16 who want to change their given names and/or pronouns at school.
Lecce did not say if the Ontario government would so the same, only pointing out that his comments reflect the "province's position on the matter."
The minister's remarks drew criticism from 2SLGBTQ+ advocates and education groups. Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's first lesbian premier, told CP24 last week that a similar policy in Ontario could put children at risk. Unifor also released a statement, saying it was appalled with Lecce's comments.
"For queer and trans students, exploring their identity in social settings is hard enough without their teachers being forced to out them to parents for the simple request of going by a different name or pronoun in class," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
"By dragging Ontario schools into this culture war, Minister Lecce is proving that Ontario's PCs are just like any other Tories- ready to throw trans kids under the bus to distract from policies that have decimated public services, including education."
A recent poll found that 43 per cent Ontarians believe parents must both be informed and give consent of an identity change, while 34 per cent said parents should simply be informed.
About 16 per cent of respondents said it should solely be up to the child.
- with files from CTV Toronto's Katherine DeClerq
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Some structural damage' from wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., mayor confirms
More than one home has been damaged or lost due to a massive wildfire outside of the B.C. community of Fort Nelson, the mayor confirmed Wednesday.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
Chief says grave search at B.C. residential school brings things 'full circle'
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
'Endless Shrimp' just one misstep for Red Lobster as it eyes bankruptcy protection
While it's unclear what these closures might mean for the 27 restaurants in Canada, Red Lobster is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. this month.
B.C. man shot sex worker in the back during drug-fuelled birthday, court hears
A man from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after shooting a sex worker in the back during a drug-fuelled 43rd birthday.
'Inhumane conditions': 68 dogs pulled from Winnipeg home
Nearly six dozen dogs were seized from a home Wednesday morning by the Winnipeg Humane Society. It is the largest known seizure of animals in the city’s history.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
Driver said he smoked pot oil, took medication before Florida crash that killed 8 Mexican workers
A man with a long record of dangerous driving told investigators he smoked marijuana oil and took prescription drugs hours before he sideswiped a bus, killing eight Mexican farmworkers and injuring dozens more, according to an arrest report unsealed Wednesday.