Thread by @SnorlaxYawning

🧵Let’s take a look at Ottawa Catholic School Board Zone 3, Paul Safi, and dig into what his Campaign Life Coalition endorsement really means. Did you know they have a different questionnaire for public and Catholic boards? #Ottawa #Ottvote 1/

At least for Ottawa, the CLC’s survey for the public school board consists of three questions, focused on parental notice about “controversial issues” like abortion, homosexuality and contraception.

These questions take the format of a dog-whistle, phrasing everything 2/

as a matter of parental rights. Of course, we know and they know what they are actually getting at, and CLC is clear that what they are really concerned with in terms of “controversial issues” is abortion, homosexuality, and contraception. But by phrasing it as 3/

a matter of parental rights, they left some room for ambiguity and made it into a bit of a dog-whistle, at the same time signalling to CLC supporters who to vote for while theoretically leaving the candidates some room for plausible deniability. 4/

In fact it seems that even one local candidate had previously received the green light from the CLC because she likely didn’t recognize the dog-whistle and answered affirmatively, then seemingly backtracked when she figured out what it really meant. 5/

But for the Catholic boards, there is no ambiguity. In 2022, there are eight questions and they are rather specific, not bothering to hide behind dog-whistles and plausible deniability. 6/

First, the CLC demands that the board promote “total fidelity to the faith and moral teachings of the Catholic Church?”

They helpfully clarify that they are specifically referring to “the illicitness of abortion, contraception, and homosexual practice” 7/

In the second and third question, the free speech warriors at the CLC ask if the candidates support censoring anything that goes against the morality and teachings of the church. 8/

If you want to know what they really mean by “the morality and teachings of the church,” refer to the first question. 9/

They also ask if candidates oppose “sex-ed programs which are contrary to Church teaching.” Note that above they said that they believe contraception is illicit, so that pretty much only leaves ineffective abstinence-only sex-ed. 10/

In order to get the CLC nomination, you also have to oppose any flying of Pride flags at schools (again, free speech?). This is why all the incumbents for OCSB except for Glen Armstrong have the red light, as he was the only one to vote against the pride flags in 2021. 11/

Finally, they also come out and ask if the candidate believes women should have access to abortions. 12/

Paul Safi answered these questions perfectly, from the CLC perspective. That means he is anti-LGBT, against comprehensive sex-ed, and a forced birther. These are policies that would harm children. 13/

Also based on his answers, Paul Safi opposes both abortion and comprehensive sex ed. While this may seem like a contradiction, it really isn’t – forced birthers don’t actually want to reduce abortions, they just want to punish women for having sex. 14/

Naturally, he’s also endorsed by Vote Against Woke, the anti-woke voting guide endorsed by both Jonathan Kay and Maxime Bernier. 15/

Based on his responses to the CLC alone, it’s clear that Paul Safi supports policies that harm students. Don’t vote for him in OCSB Zone 3, and avoid any candidate who has the green light from the CLC, especially in the Catholic boards. #Ottawa #OttVote 16/