Sudburians can take part in developing new curriculum through telephone town halls

Anyone in Greater Sudbury who wants to have a say in Ontario's sex ed curriculum can take part in telephone town halls the province is planning in the coming weeks.

One town hall will be held this month – Oct. 23, the day after the municipal election – and three in November, on the 20th, 26th and 29th. The sessions are being held in the afternoon and evenings, depending on the day.

A detailed list of the sessions and registrations forms can be found here. And more dates will be announced later for anyone who can't participate or misses out on the current sessions.

To take part, you have to provide your telephone number and email. Registration closes at 4 p.m. the day before.

“If you don’t want to register for the call, you can try calling directly into the toll-free number:1-888-601-4395,” says information on the province's website.

Each session will last about 90 minutes.

The initiative is part of Premier Doug Ford government's plan to replace the 2015 curriculum brought in by former Premier Kathleen Wynne.

The Tory government has directed schools to use the one from 1998 until the new policy is in place. Several groups have filed a human rights complaint in an attempt to force the government to change course.

Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson has promised the government will act quickly to consult with Ontarians and bring in new rules for sex ed.