When Progressive Conservative MPP Rick Nicholls shouted in the legislature it’s “not a bad idea” to stop teaching evolution in schools, he wasn’t kidding.

The off-the-cuff remark during a heated debate over the new sex education curriculum landed Nicholls (Chatham—Kent—Essex) in hot water with Conservative colleagues and left him ridiculed by others.

“It obviously didn’t help our position,” said interim Conservative leader Jim Wilson, who has frequently blamed his party for poor decisions that led to four successive election losses to the scandal-plagued Liberals.

But Nicholls — a co-chair of Barrie MP Patrick Brown’s campaign for leadership of the Ontario PCs — stood by his line when asked about it Wednesday.

“For myself, I don’t believe in evolution,” Nicholls told reporters.

The controversial quip came after Education Minister Liz Sandals — reacting to criticisms Tuesday from Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton about modernizing sex education — scolded that a Tory government “could opt out of teaching about evolution, too.”

That’s when Nicholls retorted “that’s not a bad idea” as catcalls died down.

“She was very flippant in her response to my colleague and I gave a flippant response back to her,” he explained.

Asked if schools should be allowed to opt out of teaching evolution, Nicholls said that’s up to Sandals, who says parents can take their children out of individual sex education lessons.

“I leave that decision up to the minister of education.”

Nicholls insisted he did not get any negative feedback from fellow Conservative MPPs concerned about revitalizing the party’s image during the race to replace Tim Hudak, ousted for his ill-fated promise in last June’s election to cut 100,000 public sector jobs.

“No one came and said anything to me afterwards at all,” Nicholls added, noting he objects to what he considers “age-inappropriate” elements of the sex-ed curriculum but refusing to be specific.

But Conservative House leader Steve Clark said he did have words with his MPP in a “casual meeting” in Nicholls’ office, which the MPP later acknowledged.

“What he said yesterday in the House is obviously not party policy,” said a clearly perturbed Clark. “I met with him yesterday.”

Conservative MPP Christine Elliott, also running for leader in May 9 contest, distanced herself from the comments by Nicholls.

“I don’t agree with the views that were expressed with respect to evolution,” Elliott told reporters.

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Elliott said the government didn’t consult enough with parents on sex education but refused to say what kind of curriculum she would implement.