Toronto

Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives were trying to fundraise off of a promise to “scrap” the Liberals sex-ed curriculum during a Toronto byelection this summer, according to an email obtained by The Canadian Press.

Monte McNaughton, a Progressive Conservative member of the legislature, sent the email to supporters on Aug. 27, the same weekend that a letter from party leader Patrick Brown made the pledge to repeal the curriculum.

“Patrick firmly committed to scrapping the Wynne-Liberals’ new sex-ed curriculum upon the election of a PC government,” McNaughton wrote.

Brown has denied that he knew about the letter before it was distributed in an east Toronto riding, even though emails show his chief of staff was involved.

The party needed “all hands on deck” in the byelection campaign, McNaughton wrote, inviting supporters to either volunteer or donate.

“If you are unable to join me campaigning this weekend, please consider making a financial contribution to the Scarborough-Rouge River PC Association by clicking here,” the email concludes.

Elections Ontario records show that the party raised more than $175,000 for the Sept. 2 byelection in the days following McNaughton’s fundraising plea, though it’s not known how much, if any, was a result of the email.

Even though Brown had previously told social conservatives in private that he would repeal the Liberals’ sex-ed curriculum — a pledge he never made publicly — he has said he was “livid” about the letter. Brown has since said he now supports the curriculum.

McNaughton has said he wasn’t surprised by the letter promising to scrap the curriculum because it was consistent with his understanding of the party’s direction. He is the only Progressive Conservative MPP still publicly speaking against the curriculum.

His email was sent to supporters including Tanya Granic Allen, the head of Parents as First Educators, a group vocally opposed to the curriculum.

She had discussions — which Brown has since acknowledged were a “mistake” — during the byelection with Brown’s chief of staff Nicolas Pappalardo, who she said wanted to see what commitments Brown could make to win their support during the race.

Granic Allen and other social conservative leaders have now turned on Brown, accusing him of courting their support to win the leadership race last year then “betraying” them.

McNaughton was the only Progressive Conservative to attend an anti-sex-ed rally outside the legislature last week. He was only there briefly, but he said his opposition to the curriculum hasn’t changed.

Brown had no comment on McNaughton’s fundraising email and McNaughton was not immediately available.

McNaughton has previously come under fire for his opposition to the sex-ed curriculum, with the Liberals suggesting he was motivated by homophobia.

Last year he criticized the openly gay premier’s “sex-ed agenda,” saying it’s not the premier’s job, “especially Kathleen Wynne, to tell parents what’s age-appropriate for their children.” McNaughton denied that was homophobic.

The new curriculum included updates such as warnings about online bullying and sexting, but protesters have taken issue with discussions of same-sex marriage, masturbation and gender identity.