Tories promise parental rights; critics call it ‘dog whistle’
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/08/2023 (782 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Premier Heather Stefanson was accused of blowing a “dog whistle” over LGBTTQ+ issues after her party announced it would provide new rights to parents whose children attend public schools.
The Progressive Conservative leader made the campaign promise at St. Vital Park Thursday, with 22 caucus members and candidates, young families and a bouncy castle in the background.
“The teachers and school staff do incredible work educating our kids, but parents want to know what’s going on in the day-to-day lives of their children,” Stefanson said.
“We believe that parents know what is in the best interest of their children. That’s why a re-elected PC government will formalize and enhance rights for parents and guardians in the Public Schools Act.”
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Heather Stefanson made a campaign promise at St. Vital Park Thursday that her party would provide new rights to parents whose children attend public schools.
That includes having the right to be involved in addressing bullying “and other behaviour changes.”
When asked if parents should be informed when a student discloses they have a different gender identity at school, Stefanson said it should.
“Parents know what’s best and in the best interest of their kids,” the premier said, adding parents will be consulted on the proposed new rights. “This will come up in a consultation and parents will decide.”
Stefanson’s opponents in the Oct. 3 election accused her of blowing a “dog whistle” over LGBTTQ+ issues and tapping into “moral panic” whipped up by the spread of false information.
“Heather Stefanson and the PCs are trying to divide Manitobans. In this case, they’re very clearly blowing a dog whistle about LGBTQ folks,” NDP Leader Wab Kinew said. “This is just like the Brandon situation where she refused to condemn the idea of these book bans targeting trans folks in our communities,” he said at an NDP campaign event in Winnipeg.
“Heather Stefanson and the PCs are trying to divide Manitobans. In this case, they’re very clearly blowing a dog whistle about LGBTQ folks.” NDP Leader Wab Kinew
In May, Brandon School Division trustees heard a delegation request that some books with LGBTTQ+ subject matter be removed. At the time, Stefanson said she opposed the book ban but would respect the autonomy of local school divisions. Brandon trustees rejected the book ban.
Kinew said that while the PC campaign aims to divide Manitobans, “we’re about bringing people together. We’re about reaching across cultural lines, but we’re also about reaching out to ensure that the LGBTQ community knows that they are an important and valued part of our province.”
Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont questioned why the PCs would vow to champion parents’ rights when parent councils and elected school trustees already do that.
“It’s an example of the PCs trying to pretend they’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist.”
“It’s an example of the PCs trying to pretend they’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist.”–Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont
Lamont said the Tories’ announcement aims to tap into “moral panic” that goes beyond banning books with LGBTTQ+ subject matter.
He pointed to the June 6 suspension of Louis Riel School Division trustee Francine Champagne for promoting a website containing false and sensationalist content and alleging children are being sexualized in schools as part of “the agenda.”
“Some of it is, frankly, they’re whipping up the moral panic and validating some really appalling things — the false accusations that have been made towards teachers and librarians,” Lamont said. “That is the real concern.”
Stefanson said the PCs are listening to parents and responding.
“We’re hearing from parents right across the province who want to ensure that they’re better informed to make decisions on behalf of their children.”
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Stefanson said the PCs are listening to parents and responding. “We’re hearing from parents right across the province who want to ensure that they’re better informed to make decisions on behalf of their children.”
PC MLA Rochelle Squires said it’s what she hears when she door-knocks in her Riel constituency.
“Parents are telling me I don’t know what my kids are learning,” she said at the event at St. Vital Park. “Parents are saying we want a greater role in their well-being at school. Parents are also saying, ‘I fear that I’m losing touch with what matters most to my children.’”
The PCs propose that parents have the right to be informed about the curriculum and be given advance notice when someone from outside the school system is to make a presentation to students. They say parents should have the right to consent to images being posted on social media.
While curriculum information is available online and Stefanson acknowledged that permission from parents has long been required to publish a student’s photo, the rights of parents in the Public Schools Act haven’t been updated since 1996.
“A lot has changed in those 30 years when it comes to cyberbullying, pictures on the internet — all those things really didn’t take place back then, so there are some things that need to be updated,” she said. “Some schools have taken on certain policies but some haven’t. Parents want to have better knowledge of what’s going on.”
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society declined to comment on the PC campaign promise. The Manitoba Association of Parent Councils was not available to comment Thursday.
—With files from Danielle DaSilva
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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