Tory MPP McNaughton denies singling out Wynne’s sexuality

Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton says he was not referring to Premier Kathleen Wynne’s sexual identity when he said she was “especially” not suited to tell parents what is age-appropriate sexual health curriculum.

On Feb 23, McNaughton, the MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, reportedly criticized updates to Ontario’s sexual education curriculum and said it was not the premier of Ontario’s job — especially Kathleen Wynne’s — to tell parents what is age appropriate.

Wynne, a former minister of education, is the first openly gay premier elected in Ontario.

The new curriculum, which will be implemented in September 2015, has been updated to better reflect changes to Canadian and Ontario law, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and the inclusion of gender identity and expression in the Ontario Human Rights Code. It will also cover issues related to online bullying, consent and safe sex.

On Feb 24, Wynne responded during question period: “What is it that especially disqualifies me for the job that I am doing? Is it that I am a woman? Is it that I am a mother? Is it that I have a master of education? Is it that I was a school council chair? Is that I was the minister of education? What is it exactly that the member opposite thinks disqualifies me from doing the job that I am doing?”

After question period, McNaughton joined a demonstration against the new curriculum outside of the Ontario legislature building. He told reporters he was not talking about Wynne’s sexual identity.

“That’s a farce,” he said. “I think it’s low of any premier or any minister of education to suggest another legislator in Ontario would have those views.”

McNaughton says that he was referring to the scandals currently facing the premier, and what he says is her broken promise to consult parents about the updated sexual education curriculum.

HG Watson can be reached at hg.watson@dailyxtra.com or @hg_watson on Twitter.