Alberta UCP candidate slammed for comments on pornography in schools, quits

Torry Tanner has resigned after saying in a video that teachers are exposing children to pornographic materials with no parental knowledge.

By The Canadian Press and Alejandro Melgar

Posted Mar 30, 2023 11:13 am.

Last Updated Mar 31, 2023 7:47 am.

A candidate for the United Conservative Party (UCP) in southern Alberta has resigned after a video surfaced of her claiming children are being exposed to pornography in schools.

Torry Tanner says in a 50-second video that teachers are exposing children to pornographic materials and helping them change their gender identity with no parental knowledge.

“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.

“We need to get involved on school boards, on parent councils, so that we can keep those precious little ones safe from this kind of outrageously inappropriate behaviour.”

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.”

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.

Statement from Torry Tanner. pic.twitter.com/HUD20kaREe

— United Conservative Party of Alberta (@Alberta_UCP) March 30, 2023

“My decision to run for office was rooted in a desire to make sure a UCP government was elected to keep Alberta on the right track forward,” her statement reads.

“During the nomination process, I made a video that, at its core, spoke to my commitment to protecting children.

“However, 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.”

Premier Danielle Smith says she has accepted Tanner’s resignation as the candidate in Lethbridge West and will work with the “local constituency and the party to appoint a replacement in the near future.”