Ontario announces broad consultations on education issues, including sex-ed

Ontario will launch broad consultations on a new sex-ed curriculum and other education issues in September, the government announced Wednesday, warning that there would be consequences for teachers who use a now-repealed modernized version of the lesson plan when school begins next month.

Premier Doug Ford said in a statement that the consultations will include an online survey, telephone townhalls across the province and a submission platform where the government will accept detailed proposals.

Ford also issued a stark warning to educators who have openly said in recent weeks that they will continue to use the now-scrapped version of the curriculum that was updated by the previous Liberal government in 2015.

“We will not tolerate anybody using our children as pawns for grandstanding and political games,” Ford said. “Make no mistake, if we find somebody failing to do their job, we will act.”

The Progressive Conservative government’s plan to scrap the modernized sex-ed curriculum was announced last month, fulfilling a campaign promise to get rid of the document. The lesson plan included warnings about online bullying and sexting, but opponents objected to parts addressing same-sex marriage, gender identity and masturbation.

Teachers are expected to use a “revised interim curriculum” for the upcoming school year, the government said.

A public interest committee will be set up through legislation that governs the Ontario College of Teachers to ensure “curriculum-based misconduct issues are fairly dealt with” by the educational regulator.

The province has also set up a website where parents can report any concerns.

“Our government will be prepared to take regulatory and legislative action to ensure that the rights of parents are protected,” Education Minister Lisa Thompson said in a statement.