“This rally is about protesting the radical sex-ed curriculum that is being imposed on Ontario without due process and representation,” said Mr. Slater, welcoming the protestors. “We want the government to realize that there are citizens – and I believe we are in the majority – who object to what is being rammed down our throats.”

He added that earlier this week, while at a coalition rally, there were approximately 25 organizations represented by Campaign Life Coalition in protest of this specific issue.

“People from different colours, different religions and different backgrounds all gathered there around this one issue,” he said. “They all came together and put aside their differences in order to speak out and protect our children.”

As then Education minister, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne attempted to introduce a new sex-education plan in 2010, but then-Premier Dalton McGuinty withdrew the proposal after irate parents demonstrated opposition to the proposed changes.

One critique surrounding the new curriculum is the manner in which it was passed, which saw it veiled in a lot of secrecy, and without general public consultation and input.

However, the government has defended this choice, explaining that they spoke to minority groups they felt were most in need of the changes, such as Queer Ontario and the Trans Lobby Group.

The involvement of former Deputy Edu- cation Minister in production of the curriculum has alarmed parents and other residents across the Province. But Premier Wynne says deputy ministers do not have any actual role in the creation of curriculums.

“Ministers and deputy ministers do not write curriculum,” she was quoted as advising reporters in a March article in the Toronto Sun. “Curriculum is written by subject experts in conversation and in consultation with a wide array of people and curriculum is reviewed and written on an ongoing basis.”

The premier said any suggestion that there was that kind of interference “just demonstrates a lack of understanding of how curriculum actually is written … ministers and deputy ministers don’t write curriculum.”

However, many parents feel some items in the curriculum are clear evidence of the impact of his influence, such as speaking to 12-year-old girls about anal intercourse, oral sex and sexual pleasure.

Four main points the protestors hoped to get across and formed part of their chant, was that they want responsible government, moral education, healthy families, and to protect their children from harm. They feel the ‘radical’ sex education program goes against each of those things.

“As Christians and from a moral standpoint, we believe that our government should be standing up for what is right for the people,” added Pastor Kerry Duffield, who attended the protest on behalf of Good Friends Fellowship Church. “We believe that by protesting here today, we are not only telling the government what morally is right, but we are also stand- ing up for what we believe as Churches.”

He added that they believe in moral education and that people should have the right to have a say in what is being taught to their children, especially as parents.

“What is being put forth here today is not only right, but it’s also because someone needs to stand up and say what is morally right,” he said.

Over 185,000 Ontarians signed petitions presented to the legislature by former Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful MPP Monte McNaughton, listing criticisms of both the curriculum and the process involved.

One major criticism of the process was the fact only one hand-picked parent from each school was allowed to fill out a survey regarding the curriculum.

“The survey was a charade, containing only vague general questions that everyone would naturally say yes to,” said Mr. Slater.

“Had the online survey asked if they wanted 8-year-olds to be taught the theory of gender fluidity, or if they wanted anal intercourse to be introduced in Grade 7, I assure you the feedback would have been overwhelmingly negative. But then again, we all know Premier Wynne wasn’t truly interested in parental input.”