Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s cabinet remains silent over a photo showing one of his MPs with two people wearing T-shirts emblazoned with slogans against policies on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
The image shared on social media emerged shortly after Mr Poilievre distanced himself from another photo in which he was standing next to a man wearing a T-shirt that referenced right-wing pride.
Last photo shows Calgary Forest Lawn Assemblyman Jasraj Singh Hallan, conservative financial critic, along with three other men at a pancake breakfast open to the public as part of the Calgary Stampede Calgary last week.
Two of the men are wearing white t-shirts with the black slogan “Leave our children alone.” The shirts also feature a smaller, stylized image of a family under an umbrella protecting them from the rainbow of colors associated with LGBTQ+ Pride flags attached.
Messrs. Poilievre and Hallan’s offices did not respond to requests for comment on the photo or whether they agreed with the message on the shirts.
Activist and Accused
One of the men pictured, Mahmoud Mourra, protested against school policies and activities that recognize students’ sexual orientation and gender identity.
Mr Mourra, who shared the photo on social media, also faces hate stalking charges. Calgary Police say this stems from allegations surrounding “multiple online interactions” on June 26.
According to police, Mr Mourra was charged on July 3 and his next court date is in August. In a phone interview on Friday, Mourra called the allegations against him a “joke” and said they were the result of an argument with someone he knew.
He said he thought nothing of his T-shirt as he posed for a photo with Mr Hallan, whom he called a friend. Mr Mourra said the two had not discussed his views on teaching sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, nor had he informed the MP of the charges he was facing.
“It wasn’t on purpose. I never thought about it until I saw what happened to Danielle Smith,” he told The Canadian Press.
He was referring to a recent photo of the Alberta Prime Minister standing with a man wearing a “Heterosexual Pride” shirt. Her office has since said she disagrees with the post, which Mr Poilievre also disagreed with reporters.
As for the LGBTQ+ community, Mr Mourra said he was concerned that teachers would force what he calls “this curriculum” on children. “I believe that I have the opportunity to determine or decide for myself how my children should grow up. I don’t teach them hate,” he said.
discord and misinformation
A recent incident in Edmonton sparked protests in Alberta against education about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools after a teacher taught a Muslim student to avoid events of pride. The teacher told the student that he “can’t be Canadian” and that he “doesn’t belong here” if he doesn’t believe in LGBTQ+ rights.
At a recent community event in Calgary, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said much of the division is fueled by misinformation, particularly from “the American right” about what is really in provincial school programs.
“They are weaponizing the LGBT issue,” Trudeau said in a conversation with Muslim parents at the event, which was recorded and shared on social media. They use these fears to divide people,” he added.
The Prime Minister told the small group of parents that the federal government unequivocally defends the rights and freedoms of everyone, including the Muslim community and LGBTQ+ youth.
In addition to his prominent role as an opposition critic, Hallan is also one of the Tory MPs committed to outreach to immigrant and newcomer communities, where the party hopes to garner support for the next election.
Mr Mourra, a Muslim father of five, said many of his values align with Tories. He believes the federal party supports the message he is taking following Mr Poilievre’s recent comments on a New Brunswick policy.
The province’s progressive Conservative Prime Minister Blaine Higgs has sparked controversy by changing a policy to no longer require teachers to use the preferred pronouns of transgender or non-binary students under the age of 16.
Instead, a teacher should seek parental consent to use these pronouns. The Higgs administration says that if this is not possible, a student would be referred to a school psychologist or social worker to develop a plan to let their parents know “if and when they are ready”.
When asked about this initiative, Mr Poilievre condemned Justin Trudeau’s reaction to it and said it was none of his business. “Let the provinces run the schools and let the parents raise their children,” Poilievre told reporters last month.