B.C. Conservative leader criticized for comparing parental rights to residential schools

Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad made an online post critics say compares B.C.'s school resources for sexual orientation and gender identity to residential schools.

The leader of the Conservative Party of B.C.  is taking heat from both Indigenous communities and LGBTQ2 activists for a social media post critics say compares the province’s SOGI 123 resources to residential schools.

John Rustad, the MLA for Nechako Lakes, made the post to X, formally Twitter, on Sept. 30’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — or Orange Shirt Day. Today, we remember what happens when the Canadian government thinks it’s better at raising children than parents. I will always stand with parents,” the post reads.

Parental rights in Canada were recently brought to the forefront due to protests over the SOGI 123 resource.

SOGI 123 is a resource package designed to help teachers and school administrators reduce discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in their curriculum. It provides guidance and tools teachers can weave into their lessons and language but is not a fully-formed curriculum in itself.

Some B.C. parents have expressed concern with the gender-inclusive educational resources, saying it is taking away their right to decide what their children learn in public schools.

Some groups have used the banner of parental rights to argue for a ban on teaching sexual orientation and gender identity in B.C. schools.

However, some organizations like the BC Teachers’ Federation say critics of the program are using parental consent as a “dog whistle for rising homophobia and transphobia.”