UCP candidate, slammed for comments on pornography in schools, quits
A candidate for the United Conservative Party in southern Alberta has resigned after claiming in a video that children are being exposed to pornography in schools.
Torry Tanner, who was running in Lethbridge West, made the comments in a 50-second video posted online.
“We, as parents, are in a unique position to protect the innocence of our children yet alarmingly we are seeing increasing instances where kids, even those attending kindergarten, are being exposed to pornographic materials or, worse yet, having teachers help them change their gender identity with absolutely no parental consent or knowledge whatsoever,” Tanner said in the video.
“This needs to be stopped immediately.”
She urged parents to get involved on school boards and on parent councils to keep their children safe.
“As an educator and mother myself, this concerns me greatly because, when it comes down to protecting youth, silence just isn't an option anymore,” she said.
“So, I am asking that you stand with me to take action in protecting our children.”
The video has been slammed by the Opposition NDP and the Alberta Teachers Association as misinformation.
“We have a vetted UCP candidate by the party making comments that were not true, comments that were used to create fear for political gain,” said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers Association.
“I am from Lethbridge, I am from that riding actually. I know that the people who are working in our schools, the teachers, are not doing what she indicated that they were.”
Two local school divisions issued statements in support of their teachers.
“Holy Spirit Catholic School Division fully supports the amazing work that our educators do to ensure that our schools are safe and welcoming places for all students and their families,” the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division’s statement read.
“Our staff work tirelessly and collaboratively with home and parish to ensure that the Catholic worldview is presented in a sensitive and pastoral way that respects diversity and protects the dignity of each individual student; who is a unique and precious gift from God, entitled to love and acceptance.”
“Lethbridge School Division unequivocally supports our schools and the professionalism of our teaching staff,” the Lethbridge School Division’s statement read.
“The division is grateful for the hard work our teachers do, along with everyone throughout the education system, to ensure our students are cared for and engaged in quality learning experiences on a daily basis.
“As always, the division, and our dedicated staff members, are committed to ensuring students are instilled with the values of learning, inclusion, respect, well-being and leadership.”
Allison Purcell, Lethbridge School Division board of trustees chair, likewise spoke in support of teachers.
“Our educators work tirelessly to ensure our students grow as learners and achieve their educational goals,” Purcell said.
“Supporting learning and attending to student well-being are at the core of what our staff members do each and every day.”
Tanner said in a statement released by the party Thursday that she made the video during the nomination process and that it spoke to her commitment to protecting children.
“It's clear that my choice of words have distracted not only from the issue I was trying to discuss, but are being used by my political opponents to hurt our chances of winning across the province,” she said.
The provincial election is expected to be held at the end of May.
Premier Danielle Smith said in the statement that she has accepted Tanner's resignation.
“I will be working with the local constituency and the party to appoint a replacement in the near future,” she said.
Trevor Harrison, professor of sociology and political scientist at the University of Lethbridge, said the ramifications of Tanner’s comments could stretch far.
“That could have a wider effect than just this particular riding for sure. So, we'll see the effect that it has,” Harrison said.
(With clips from CTV Lethbridge’s Quinn Keenan)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.