Thousands of parents have already responded to the government’s online call for input on sex-ed, math and other school issues, says Education Minister Lisa Thompson.While she’s “not prepared to share the number, I can tell you we’ve more than tripled the Liberal numbers in terms of the consultations thus far, in two short weeks” since launching fortheparents.ca, she told reporters at Queen’s Park on Wednesday. “We feel really good about the information that’s coming forward in our first phase, which is written consultation” via online submissions.“It’s really refreshing — clearly people want a chance to have their voice heard, because they are taking time to comment on all seven” areas the government is asking about.The PC government had promised the largest consultations in the province’s history after scrapping the updated sex-ed curriculum — after social conservatives complained parents weren’t involved in, nor approved of, the changes. The consultations were later expanded to include math, standardized testing and financial literacy.“While we’re embarking on this consultation, which has far surpassed that dismal 1,638 responses the former Liberal government generated, we are actually listening to parents,” Thompson said in the legislature.Read more: Ontario to kick off sex-ed consultations in three phasesEditorial | The Ford government is bungling sex-ed consultationsSchool board’s sex-ed guideline for parents meant to clear up confusionShe later said the second and third phases will soon be in place — online surveys and telephone town halls.The consultations are to wrap up mid-December.“We are just testing our digital survey, and we will be hosting our very first town-hall teleconference on Friday for northwestern Ontario,” Thompson said, adding her ministry is “working with stakeholders” to alert parents to w ...
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