We, The Undersigned, Believe That:
- The Ontario Government’s repeal of Ontario’s current health and physical education curriculum threatens the health and safety of children and youth. The impacts of this repeal will include putting children and youth at an increased risk of negative physical, mental, and sexual violence and health outcomes. It will limit access to essential information about healthy relationships, accepting and celebrating diversity, and access to the tools children and youth need to safely navigate the modern world.
- The Ontario Government’s decision to halt the revision process of Ontario’s social studies and history curriculums to include additional Indigenous content is appalling. Ontario has a responsibility to participate in the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, many of which focus on the importance of education in promoting healing and understanding.
We Call on The Ontario Government to:
- Protect the safety and wellbeing of children and youth by reinstating the updated 2015 health and physical education curriculum immediately.
- Pledge that any new curriculum will maintain educational components that discuss consent, healthy relationships, choice, sexual health development, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in an accepting manner that reflects the diversity of Ontario.
- Pledge that any consultative process on changes to the curriculum includes and amplifies the voices of equity seeking groups most impacted by this policy change and consults with subject matter experts in the field.
2. Immediately reinstate the curriculum development process for including additional Indigenous content as an essential responsibility of settlers on traditional Indigenous territories.
- Reschedule the hastily cancelled Indigenous curriculum writing sessions.
- Reaffirm the Ontario Government’s commitment to reconciliation as laid out in The Journey Together: Ontario’s Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Sincerely,
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The 519
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Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
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Action Ontarienne Contre la Violence Faite aux Femmes
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Advancement of Women Halton
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AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area
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Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing
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Anova London
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Bad Subject
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Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre
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Bulima Anorexia Nervosa Association
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The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
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Canadian Civil Liberties Association
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Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
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Canadian Women’s Foundation
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CANVAS Arts Action Programs
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Charlene Senn, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Sexual Violence
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Cochrane District Social Planning Council
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Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre
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CUPE Ontario
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Design for a New Tomorrow St. Catherines
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Durham Rape Crisis Centre
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The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
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El-Tawhid Juma Circle: The Unity Mosque
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The Emily Murphy Centre
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Family Transition Place
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Fierté Timmins Pride
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Garthson Leadership Centre
- Good Shepherd Hamilton
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Guelph Pride
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Halton Women’s Place
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Hamilton Interval House
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Hamilton Regional Indian Centre
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Harmony House Ottawa
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HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario
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Hollaback! Ottawa
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Homeless Coalition of Timmins
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Inagmo Family Homes
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Interval House of Ottawa
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Justice for Children and Youth
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Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre
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KW Counselling Services
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LAWS Windsor
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L.I.G.H.T.
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Leadnow
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LGBT Youth Line
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Louise Pitre Consulting
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Manulife Centre for Community Health Research
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Minerva BC
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Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services
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Dr. Nadine Thornhill
- Network of Women with Disabilities
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Not Just Rumours
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Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses
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Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics
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Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres
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Optimism Place Stratford
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Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre
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Pavilion Women’s Centre
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Planned Parenthood Toronto
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Peterborough Youth Services
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Pride Laurentian / Fierté Laurentienne
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The Public Studio
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Project Slut
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Protea Counselling
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Queer Ontario
- Rainy River District Women’s Shelter of Hope
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Raindance Toronto
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Reelout Arts Project
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Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre – Brant Community Healthcare System
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Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area
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Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton
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Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education Centre of Waterloo Region
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Shameless Magazine
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Simcoe County Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee
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Southwestern Public Health
- Southwest Region VAW Coordinating Committee
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SPACE Kenora
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Springtide Resources
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Three Oaks Foundation
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Toronto Rape Crisis Centre / Multicultural Women Against Rape
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Trinity St. Pauls Centre for Faith Justice and the Arts
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United Steelworkers Toronto Area Council
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Upper Canada Family Health Team
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Victim Services Huron County
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We Give Consent
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We Talk Women
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Willow’s Place Hamilton
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Women’s Heath Clinic
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Women’s Initiatives for Safer Environments
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Women’s March Toronto
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Women’s Place South Niagara
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WoodGreen Red Door Family Shelter
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YWCA Hamilton
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YWCA Sudbury