The Grey Bruce Labour Council is taking the unusual step of endorsing candidates for school board trustee.
The council is concerned with the platforms of some candidates that could see diversity, in particular gender and sexual diversity, removed from schools.
“The choice is between candidates with a broad history and/or vision that will support inclusion, equality, and diversity as compared to those without a pang of conscience or compassion that will drive their most narrow minded vision of what education should be,” the council said in a statement released to the media.
Grey Bruce Labour Council Vice-President Dave Trumble said the candidates they have concerns with claim to want family values, but really want to take schools back by removing diversity education.
“If you read the material, it basically says they want to take schools back to a place where a student or students that exhibit a desire to be who they are, whether it be gay or transgender…they don’t want them to be recognized and feel safe in schools,” said Trumble.
Trumble explained the labour movement and the progressive movement of diversity and inclusion have been partners for decades.
“To see school boards potentially in a situation where they rollback those very, very important ideals actually not only affects the lives of students, and in fact could put students lives at risk, it actually undermines that social fabric that labour feels very much a part of in every community,” he said.
The council focused on school board trustees because as Trumble explained, they felt with the vast geography of the area, they couldn’t properly vet the candidates for other positions.
He says it’s important that every voter be informed.
“At the end of the day we can really drive home how important it is for you to learn about your candidates,” said Trumble. “At least we know you’ve done your homework and at least you walk into the ballot box..as informed and ready to make a good choice for your and your family and love ones as anyone can possibly be.”
The Grey Bruce Labour Council chose not to identify its list of endorsed candidates by public or Catholic board, instead saying the most important identifier is progress or regression.
Those endorsed by the Labour Council are:
Township of Southgate, Municipality of Grey Highlands: Bryden Jones
Kincardine, Municipality of Huron-Kinloss: Jan Johnstone
Town of Saugeen Shores, Arran-Elderslie: Katie Lutz
Owen Sound: Michael Craig
Owen Sound, Meaford, Blue Mountains: Bruce Muise
Brockton Ward 34, 36: Linda Strader
Huron-Kinloss, Brockton, Ward 31, Kincardine: Lori DiCastri
South Bruce: Beverly Eckensweiler
Saugeen Shores, Arran-Elderslie, Chatsworth, Georgian Bluffs & Northern Bruce and South Bruce Peninsula: Lucie Debiens
