Province urged to release Del Grande report
Wynne WW says if PCs don’t act, they can’t distance themselves from remarks
The step Education in and force Ministry the Toronto must Catholic on board trustee to Michael release a Del report Grande — who connected LGBTQ rights to bestiality and pedophilia — or the government won’t be able to distance itself from such “vile attitudes,” says former premier Kathleen Wynne. WW In the legislature Thursday, Liberal MPP Wynne said Education Minister Stephen Lecce “received a letter this week on the issue of behaviour of Michael ccI annuzzi, Del Grande who … is ( from) a former Kyle school trustee and a young, gay man.” Iannuzzi, she added, “writes to urge the ministry to intervene vv in order to secure the re- lease of the report on the homophobic, bigoted behaviour and language” of Del Grande. If the government “chooses not to act” on the Del Grande incident, or quash an attempt by Canada Christian College — run by a controversial leader accused of homophobia and Islamophobia — to issue university degrees, “if it decides that the tt behaviour of Charles McVe- t ty and Michael Del Grande is acceptable, then it will be impossible one himself of its or going members herself forward from to distance for their any vile A attitudes,” statement she from said. Lecce’s spokesperson said the minister “reaffirmed this week his deep concern with the language that was used by this individual.” Caitlin Clark also noted that “earlier ( Thursday), Minister Lecce spoke to the leadership of the board to make clear his expectation that the board would deliver on his initial request: a fulsome investigation, a public release of the investigation’s report and accountability for this trustee’s actions. “In this province,” she said, “in English and French, public and Catholic school boards — we proudly must celebrate the differences within our schools and communities, and we will continue to stand up for marginalized day.” voices, each and every during dd At a meeting discussion last on November, updating the tt board’s code of conduct to include the terms gender expression made of all and boards identity, by a the request Ministry of Education to align with human rights legislation, Del Grande tried to introduce an amendment aa to a motion nam- ing a number of bizarre and offensive sexual behaviours — including necrophilia, cannibalism, voyeurism and asphyxiophilia. “After all, everybody is concerned that the right terms are used … It’s a slippery slope,” Del Grande said at the time. He later said the move was an attempt aa to “( keep) our Catholic schools authentically Catholic.” After an outcry — including from trustee Maria Rizzo, the chair who ww an conducted, not external released. said of the she but board investigation was the disgusted at report the time, was was — trustees Grande of Then, conduct. last did decided August, not violate the that board its code Del of said In a the board statement external chair to Joe the report Star, Martino “current was considered of the board under at of a private trustees the Education meeting as permitted Act. private Matters session considered of the board in remain a in private unless the He said the board is “committed board communities to environments directs creating otherwise.” that inclusive are and safe school learning and welcoming ww ed on Catholic places principles for all, found- of respect, social justice, inclusion, in fairness which every and person is valued as a child of God.” He noted trustees “recently approved a revised code of conduct dd directing all school mem- bers to ‘ respect and treat others fairly, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.’ ” Del Grande’s comments were supported by some, who lauded him for standing up to activists, saying he took a “heroic stance.”