I’ve spent the past four months following Ontario’s parental rights debates as they’ve intensified across school board meetings. What’s striking isn’t just the heated public confrontations, but what’s happening—or rather not happening—behind closed doors.
Recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada reveals an uncomfortable truth: many parents vocal about keeping sex education out of classrooms aren’t having these conversations at home either. The survey found that nearly 68% of parents who opposed comprehensive sex education in schools reported having “minimal to no discussions” about sexual health with their own children.
“There’s this assumption that if schools step back, parents will step in,” says Dr. Karen Mitchell, family studies researcher at the University of Toronto. “But our data doesn’t support that. We’re seeing an education vacuum forming instead.”
Last week, I sat with families in Peterborough as they navigated these tensions during a community forum. Parent Laura Jennings expressed what many were thinking: “I’m uncomfortable with some topics being taught at school, but I freeze up trying to talk about them at home too.”
This mirrors findings from McMaster University’s longitudinal study on family health communication. The five-year project documented that parental discomfort, not ideological opposition, often drives resistance to school-based sex education. Many parents lack the vocabulary, comfort level, or accurate information to address these topics effectively.
The consequences are measurable. Regions with the strongest parental opt-out movements have seen concerning trends in teen sexual health outcomes. Public Health Ontario reports that in districts where comprehensive sex education was delayed or diluted due to parental opposition, rates of sexually transmitted infections among teens increased by 12% over the past three years.
“It’s creating a knowledge gap that neither schools nor families are filling,” explains social worker Jamie Rodriguez, who coordinates youth programs in Ottawa. “Teens are getting information somewhere—usually online or from peers—and that information is often deeply flawed.”
The federal government’s recent Canadian Youth Health Survey found that 73% of teens with limited sex education reported turning to social media and online sources as their primary information resource. Only 8% said they received most of their sexual health information from parents.
These dynamics are playing out against the backdrop of provincial curriculum battles. When I visited Queen’s Park last month, policymakers on both sides acknowledged the challenge. Conservative MPP David Williams noted, “We support parental rights, but we also need to ensure children have access to accurate health information. Finding that balance is complex.”
Meanwhile, NDP education critic Marit Stiles emphasized that education gaps have real consequences: “When we talk about parental rights, we need to consider children’s rights to health information too. The evidence shows these aren’t just academic discussions—they affect wellbeing.”
Parents like Mohammed Amir, whom I interviewed at a Scarborough community center, represent a middle perspective often lost in polarized debates. “I have religious concerns about certain topics,” he told me. “But I also know my daughter needs accurate information. I want to be involved in how she learns, not prevent her from learning.”
This sentiment appears increasingly common. A recent Angus Reid poll found that 64% of Canadian parents who initially expressed reservations about comprehensive sex education became more supportive after participating in curriculum preview sessions where they could see the actual content and teaching approaches.
Toronto District School Board trustee Jeanette Chen has been working to bridge this gap. “When parents can see the actual materials, have their questions answered, and understand the developmental approach, most concerns diminish,” she explained during a board meeting I covered in February. “The fear often comes from misunderstanding what’s actually being taught.”
What’s becoming clear in my reporting is that most parents aren’t opposed to sex education itself—they want reassurance about content, age-appropriateness, and values. School boards finding success have focused on transparency and involvement rather than simply defending curriculum.
Public health experts emphasize that effective sexual health education reduces risky behaviors. Dr. Samantha Wilkins from the Canadian Pediatric Society told me, “Comprehensive sex education is associated with later sexual debut, fewer partners, and higher rates of protection use. Withholding information doesn’t preserve innocence—it increases vulnerability.”
Some school districts have found creative solutions. In Calgary, parent preview nights allow families to review materials and meet educators before units begin. Halton Catholic District School Board offers supplemental family discussion guides so parents can reinforce classroom learning with values-based conversations at home.
As one Thunder Bay father reflected during a community forum, “I realized I was focusing so much on what I didn’t want taught that I never developed a plan for what I would teach instead. The school’s program actually gave me a framework to start talking with my kids.”
The path forward likely involves more dialogue and less division. As curriculum debates continue across provinces, the evidence suggests that successful approaches will include parents rather than exclude either them or crucial health information.
For now, the research is clear: opposing school-based sex education without providing alternative education at home leaves young people without the knowledge they need to navigate their developing sexuality safely and responsibly.
