A court in Toronto is hearing a legal challenge Wednesday from both the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
It's over the Progressive Conservative government's repeal of an updated sex-ed curriculum.
The modernized curriculum that took effect in 2015 included lessons about online bullying and sexting — but opponents objected to parts addressing same-sex relationships and gender identity, prompting the Progressive Conservatives to roll it back and reinstate an old curriculum late last year.
Elementary Teachers Federation president Sam Hammond is at today's proceedings and says "the current curriculum is grossly inadequate in meeting the needs of today's students." He adds he's glad we've finally gotten to this point, saying "we're tired of political talk and that's why we're here at court today."
But ETFO lawyer Howard Goldblatt says in court that there might not have even be a legal case if Premier Doug Ford hadn't also issued a warning to teachers who openly said they would continue to use the now-scrapped version of the curriculum.
Ford said he wouldn't tolerate teachers using children as pawns for political grandstanding and his government launched a website where parents can report such concerns, which critics have dubbed a "snitch line."
— With files from Newstalk 1010