We believe that the 2015-18 Sex Education curriculum should NOT be replaced by the 1998 Curriculum, as announced in the Ontario Throne Speech on July 12, 2018 (read the transcript here). Our Facebook Group #SmartSexED is set up to share information and ideas and organize the effort to (a) undo this unconstitutional government action, through litigation by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and (b) assist parents and kids to access the 2015-18 Sex Ed lessons through the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust, and our YouTube channel (more info to follow). Of course we are eager to collaborate with as many groups as possible. We don’t need to own it; we just have your back.
CCLA will challenge the Throne Speech promise to replace 2015 Sex Ed curriculum with 1998 version, once it’s official, assuring that the Ford Sex Ed curriculum ends up discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. As we currently understand it,
- Grade 3 students won’t discuss same-sex relationships or families with two moms or two dads;
- Grade 6 students won’t learn about gender expression;
- Grade 8 students won’t learn about the gender spectrum: male, female, two-spirited, transgender, transsexual and intersex.
The effect of the Ford Government action is to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, who are harmed by the stigmatization and degradation caused by the removal of education content regarding LGBTQ+. It’s as if LGBTQ+ kids and adults no longer exist in our public education system, when it comes to sex ed.
VOLUNTEERS
Thank to those who reached out for your interest in CCLA’s SmartSexED campaign.
As you probably know, there has been a tremendous amount of interest in this issue, and many organisations and individuals are exploring options that include the creation of educational resources. This response is great news! However, we don’t want to duplicate efforts, and so we are still assessing what resources are needed and will be most useful. We are considering collaborating with others who are also working on this issue. As things move forward on this front, we will be in touch to update you and offer ways to put your talents and expertise to use.
In the meantime, we are looking at options for challenging the government’s decision in court. At this link, you will find a short survey that is seeking information about your experiences with the current and former sex ed curricula. This information is being collected primarily to help CCLA with our litigation efforts – a crucial piece of ensuring that our sexual health curriculum doesn’t go back in time. However, some of the survey info will also be helpful in sorting out how we can make use of your help and skills with our education campaign. Please take a few moments to complete the survey, and thank you again for your interest and support!
EVENTS
On Saturday July 21st, CCLA joined hundreds of individuals at the March For Our Education rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Check out our page here to see highlights from the event!
RESOURCES
- Here is a copy of the sex-ed curriculum for Ontario elementary schools, as it was taught 2015-18.
- Here is a copy of the sex-ed curriculum for Ontario secondary schools, as it was taught 2015-18.
- Here is a copy of the old 1998 curriculum for grades 1-8.
CAMPAIGNS
- Change.org Petition: Save Ontario’s Current Sex Ed Curriculum!
- Women’s March Canada: Keep Ontario’s Current Sex-ED Curriculum Petition
- LeadNow’s Petition: Doug Ford: Keep Ontario’s Sex-Ed Curriculum
- The 519: We Have Your Back Campaign
- North 99: Save Ontario’s Sex-Ed Curriculum
- Let’s Save Ontario Sex Ed: GoFundMe Campaign
NEWS ARTICLES
- Toronto Star: More Ontario school boards join sex-ed curriculum protest
- Globe and Mail: Ontario school boards reject 20-year-old sex-ed curriculum
- iPolitics: Ontario sex-ed will still teach some modern themes: minister
- CBC: Turning throne speech into reality will pose hurdles for Doug Ford
- CBC: LGBT advocates, NDP target rollback of sex-ed curriculum at Toronto event
- CBC: Toronto educator to create online video lessons teaching scrapped sex-ed curriculum
- CTV: Learning like it’s 1998: Ontario’s throwback sex ed curriculum
- Toronto Star: Ontario students will be taught the 1998 sex-ed curriculum, education minister says
- Toronto Star: The naked truth about how the repealed sex ed program compares to the 1998 one that replaces it
- Globe and Mail: Ford government scraps controversial Ontario sex-ed curriculum
- CBC: Ontario going back to old sex-ed curriculum in fall, PCs say
- VICE news: Doug Ford is taking Ontario back to a 1998 sex ed curriculum
- Toronto Star: School board group urges Doug Ford to keep sex-ed curriculum he says he’ll repeal
- Global News: Sexual education compared across Canada
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
English (Canada) 
Français du Canada