A parent activist who opposes Ontario’s updated sex-ed curriculum is the fourth official candidate in the race to replace departed Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown in the June 7 provincial election.

Tanya Granic Allen of Parents As First Educators entered the March 10 contest with the first of two televised leadership debates taking place Thursday.

“We have to make sure the social conservative voice is being respected,” Allen, who is now registered with Elections Ontario as an entrant, said in a recent post on the lobby group’s website.

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“When it comes to these leadership contests, we are far better off supporting candidates who we can trust and who will speak out on our issues,” added Allen, who did not reply to requests for comment Wednesday.

Her entry comes as leadership rivals have, to varying extents, reached out to social conservatives courted by Brown in his successful 2015 quest for the leadership.

Many social conservatives felt abandoned by Brown, who quit Jan. 25, amid allegations of sexual misconduct he denies, after he decided to support Premier Kathleen Wynne’s sex-ed curriculum in moving the party toward the political centre after four consecutive defeats by the Liberals.

In the last week, leadership contestant and one-time city councillor Doug Ford has promised a review of the sex-ed curriculum. Former MPP Christine Elliott says parents need to be consulted on the “age of appropriateness” for sex ed. She has also promised Tory MPPs would be able to vote freely on matters of conscience.

Fellow contender Caroline Mulroney has said she would not undo any of the sex-ed changes Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government has made, but promised parents a bigger say in the development of curriculum in future.

Party activists who call themselves LGBTory urged candidates to stick with Ontario’s sex ed curriculum, lamenting it has emerged as a “hot button” issue.

“The curriculum revisions were long overdue and provide sensible guidance to teachers on a variety of issues of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity,” the group said. “Much of the rhetoric about the sex ed curriculum is overwrought.”

Conservative officials confirmed Allen has submitted her papers but said Wednesday there are “a small number of remaining steps for her to be recognized as a candidate.”

“We are working with her campaign — in a manner consistent with how we have worked with other campaigns — to satisfy her eligibility as soon as possible, following which she would be able to participate in tomorrow’s debate.”

Officials for the leadership camps said their focus in the debate hosted by TVO’s Steve Paikin will be on Wynne and talking to party members.

“It’s not about tearing each other down,” said Melanie Paradis of the Elliott campaign. “The party’s going to have to get through this united,” noted Michael Diamond, campaign manager for Ford.

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Ford tweeted Wednesday he would end publicly funded per-vote subsidies for political parties.

Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris said earlier this week that backtracking on the modernized sex-ed curriculum would be a mistake and insisted there had been “extensive consultation” with parents.

“In the age of social media, we have a responsibility to make sure students have the information they need to keep them safe. Through the updated curriculum, students learn (about) consent, healthy relationships and how to stand up for themselves.”

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