News & Analysis

Below is a transcript of Queenie Yu’s election night speech from the September 1st byelection. CLC strongly supported her campaign in order to make radical sex ed the #1 ballot issue in the Scarborough Rouge-River byelection.

Dear Friends and Supporters:

Before the votes were counted, a volunteer said: “Queenie, I’m praying that you win.” I told her that we have already won. School isn’t just about marks; work isn’t primarily about money; and election victory isn’t only about votes.

Because PAFE decided to run a candidate in this byelection, we have inspired hope in all those people who participated in protests, wrote letters, signed petitions and who were subsequently discouraged when Wynne’s sex-ed curriculum was still imposed on their children. Through this byelection, we have shown that no one is giving up on this fight, and that each of us can make a tremendous difference.

We achieved our objective of sending a message to all mainstream political parties that many people want Wynne’s sex-ed curriculum to be scrapped. No single issue has received as much attention as sex-ed. People weren’t talking about electricity costs, transit, taxes or health care. They were talking about sex-ed because we ran an incredibly successful campaign.

Before this byelection, many people – including me – were hoping that the PC Party would repeal the sex-ed curriculum in 2018 if they were to form government. We have saved ourselves two years of blood, sweat and tears in promoting Patrick Brown because we now know that he will not scrap the curriculum if he becomes Premier.

When I was putting door hangers on supporters’ doors yesterday, I met a volunteer for the NDP who said she was so happy that I was running as an independent candidate. She said: “I don’t share your views but I respect you because you stick to your principles unlike some people.” The PC Party may have received more votes than me but CLC and PAFE have emerged from that byelection with more honour and respect than the the PC Party.

I never wanted to run. In fact, after I received a copy of Brown’s letter to parents, I wanted to stop campaigning and saw no point in ordering large lawn signs or fixing up the small ones. Going door to door in over 30 degree weather isn’t how I like to spend my time. But I have no right to complain about the hard work involved in this campaign because I only worked for four weeks whereas many of you have been fighting for this cause for years. I was merely the face of the campaign. PAFE and CLC were the brains and motor behind everything. I came in at the 11th hour to reap fruit from the years of sowing that everyone else had been doing. It has been a genuine honour to work with you. I have learned so much and look forward to continuing this fight with you.

Sincerely,

Queenie Yu

Note by CLC: Queenie came in an impressive 4th place, almost tripling the voted garnered by the Green Party candidate. Her presence in the race was instrumental in forcing Patrick Brown to issue a signed letter promising to “scrap” the curriculum, notwithstanding the fact that he recanted that promise only a few days later after enduring some attacks by the liberal mainstream media.