Opposition leader Tim Hudak is condemning an Ottawa school survey which will ask students personal questions, including their sexual orientation.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board plans to issue the voluntary survey to students in grades seven to 11 starting Nov. 22.
Hudak says parents and students who are voicing strong concerns are "absolutely right," adding those topics are best left to families to discuss.
While students' names don't appear on the surveys, there is a code number on each survey that links to the name.
Along with questions about sexuality, the 40-part survey also asks students about their family's ethnic background and how well their parents are educated.
"The more we know about our students, the more we know about their needs, the more we can concentrate on making school a safe place, a place where they feel valued," said Barrie Hammond, the school board's director of education.
But Hudak and some concerned students and parents say the questions are too personal.
"It shouldn't matter what our parents did or how we feel about ourselves," said student Josee Ouellette. "They should just accept everyone for who they are."
The school board insists the survey is to better serve students and embrace their differences.
"We want every student in our community to feel a sense of belonging in our schools and we know from what's been reported in the press recently that certain students don't feel safe," said Hammond.
With files from The Canadian Press
