Approval
of new Ontario sex ed curriculum bounces back
One half now approve, one third disapprove
TORONTO July 8th,
2015 - In a
random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 678 Ontario
voters, one half now approve of the province’s new health and physical
education curriculum (49%), while just more than a third disapprove (37%). One
sixth do not share an opinion (14%). This represents a sharp increase in
approval of the new curriculum since the last time we polled it (May 1, approve
- 42%, disapprove - 40%), but also represents a return to the more favourable
ratings seen when we polled the subject immediately after the curriculum was
announced (but not presented). At that time, approval levels were similar to
those seen now (February 28, approve - 49%, disapprove - 34%).
Support
for the new curriculum is strongest among the youngest (63%), females rather
than males (53% to 45%), mid-income groups ($60K to $80K - 60%), in Eastern
Ontario (54%), among Liberals especially (68%), less so among New Democrats
(59%) and least so among PC supporters (27%). Approval is slightly higher among
mothers of kids under 18 (54%) and much higher among the best educated (60%).
Opposition
to the curriculum is common to boomers (55 to 64 - 48%), PC voters (63%) and
the least educated (46%).
“For a while there, Patrick Brown’s leadership campaign and
opposition to the health and physical fitness curriculum were occurring in lockstep,
but now Brown is the leader, it appears much of the organizing against the new
curriculum has ended, with the result that it is seen in a more favourable
light now than it was 3 months ago," said
Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416)
960-9603.
