Conservative MPs have been told not to comment on competing protests over how schools should handle LGBTQ+ issues on social media or in the media.
The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the message sent to members of Pierre Poilievre’s caucus, which warned them not to speak publicly on the issue and provided them with talking points they could use to communicate with their constituents.
It is common for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition to offer discussion points on important issues, as it did on reform of Canada’s bail system and inflation.
Mr. Poilievre’s office did not respond to a request for comment, particularly on the explicit instruction that MPs should not speak to the media about this specific issue.
The memo on protests across Canada says protesters have “legitimate arguments to make” on the issue of what it describes as “parental rights.”
Thousands of people gathered in several cities across the country for competing protests, chanting slogans about how schools teach about sexuality and gender identity and how teachers refer to transgender youth.
The debate that demonstrators and counter-protesters sparked on Wednesday in the streets of Canada has gained momentum in recent months due to new policies implemented in two provinces.
New Brunswick and Saskatchewan have adopted education policies requiring schools to obtain parental consent if a student under 16 wants to be called by a different name or pronoun than the one given to them by their parents .
Both policies are now the subject of legal challenges.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he was prepared to use the notwithstanding clause to keep the policy in place amid concerns from critics, LGBTQ+ community advocates and his province’s children’s advocate. province, who argue that it discriminates against the rights of transgender and non-binary students.
For his part, Mr. Poilievre only addressed the issue when asked about it.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced New Brunswick’s policies this summer, Mr. Poilievre told reporters in the province that Mr. Trudeau should stay out of provincial government affairs and “let the parents raise their children “.
Mr. Poilievre’s office reiterated that remark in Wednesday’s message and suggested MPs repeat it “to communicate with their constituents on the issue of parental rights.”
Mr. Poilievre also said, on ethnic media radio and before Wednesday’s protests, that in his opinion “parents should be the final authority on the values and lessons to teach children.”
The note began with bold text: “This message is intended for feedback use only. Please do not speak to the media or post on social media about this issue. »
The Canadian Press did not see any members of the caucus attending the protests in front of Parliament Hill.
In response to the protests, Mr. Trudeau posted a message on X on Wednesday, stating that “transphobia, homophobia and biphobia have no place in this country” and that he supports the LGBTQ+ community.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was also seen attending a counter-protest in Ottawa.
Conservatives in good shape
Since becoming leader, Mr. Poilievre has tried to get the party to focus on issues of cost of living and housing prices.
Back-to-back summer polls showing the Conservatives well ahead of the ruling Liberals have left supporters optimistic and confident he is on track to return the Conservatives to power after spending eight years out of government .
But party delegates at this month’s political convention in Quebec also made clear that they want the party to speak out on cultural issues, not just economic ones.
Party members voted to include a new provision in its policy manual stating that they believe women have a right to “single-sex spaces” and that a future Conservative government should ban medical procedures and surgical procedures for minors suffering from gender dysphoria.
Neither Mr. Poilievre nor his office has commented on what he plans to do with these new policies, which are not binding.