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Kathleen Wynne affirme que des Ontariens lui disent fréquemment que le fait d'avoir une première ministre ouvertement lesbienne renforce la sécurité de leurs enfants homosexuels.
La politicienne souligne toutefois qu'elle n'est pas une militante en faveur des droits des gais.
Cependant, elle juge que son accession au poste de chef de gouvernement montre à la population que la société est en train d'évoluer.
Selon Mme Wynne, des pères et des mères lui confient régulièrement que leurs filles ont l'impression de pouvoir accomplir n'importe quoi lorsqu'elles constatent qu'une femme est désormais première ministre.
D'après l'élue, des parents de jeunes homosexuels mentionnent à leur progéniture que la présence d'une lesbienne à la tête de la province peut favoriser l'évolution des attitudes au sein de la population.
Alors qu'elle prononçait une allocution dans le cadre d'un événement contre l'intimidation, mercredi, Kathleen Wynne a partagé son expérience personnelle devant un parterre d'élèves réunis à Scarborough.
Elle a expliqué à son jeune auditoire qu'à l'époque où elle fréquentait l'école secondaire, durant les années 1960, personne n'osait sortir du placard.
Elle a déclaré qu'elle rêvait d'un monde où les gens peuvent être aimés pour ce qu'ils sont, peu importe leur orientation sexuelle ou leur genre.
De manière générale, Kathleen Wynne parle rarement en public de son orientation sexuelle. Cependant, elle a abordé le sujet à trois reprises durant la dernière semaine lorsqu'elle a condamné la législation de l'Indiana sur la liberté de religion, quand elle s'est prononcée contre les prétendues thérapies de conversion et à l'occasion du rassemblement de mercredi.
"Il ne m'arrive pas souvent de parler de ma sexualité, mais il s'agit d'une partie de moi-même", a-t-elle mentionné devant la presse.
"Je réalise que vu ce que je suis, j'ai la responsabilité de faire tout ce qui est en mon pouvoir pour rendre notre société plus sûre et inclusive", a-t-elle souligné.
INOLTRE SU HUFFPOST
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne gets a hug from her partner Jane Rounthwaite after winning the provincial election in Toronto on Thursday June 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
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Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne celebrates with partner Jane Rounthwaite after winning the Ontario election in Toronto on Thursday June 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
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Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne celebrates with partner Jane Rounthwaite after winning the Ontario election in Toronto on Thursday June 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne celebrates on stage with her partner Jane Rounthwaite after winning the provincial election in Toronto on Thursday June 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
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Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne casts her ballot as her partner Jane Rounthwaite (right) looks on in Toronto on Thursday June 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(06 of76)
Kathleen Wynne, left, and her partner Jane Rounthwaite stand together on stage at the Ontario Liberal Leadership convention in Toronto on Saturday, January 26, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(07 of76)
Partner Jane Rounthwaite (left) puts her hand on the shoulder of new Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne as they walk off the stage after winning the Ontario Liberal Leadership at the party convention in Toronto on Saturday January 26, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(08 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, centre, and her partner Jane Rounthwaite, left, march in the 33rd annual Pride Parade along Yonge Street in Toronto on Sunday, June 30, 2013. An estimated one million people attend the event under sunny skies. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Michael Hudson)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(09 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, left, and her partner Jane Rounthwaite, right, greet supporters and her caucus at a rally during the party's annual general meeting in Toronto on Saturday, March 22, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(10 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne (right) and partner Jane Rounthwaite arrive at the church for the state funeral for the late Jim Flaherty in Toronto on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(11 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, right, laughs as she and her partner Jane Rounthwaite dress for a campaign rally at their home in Toronto on Friday May 2, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(12 of76)
Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne and her partner Jane Rounthwaite greet supporters at a campaign stop in Toronto on Monday, May 12, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(13 of76)
Ontario Premier and Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, left, stands with partner Jane Rounthwaite as they look at the waterfront from Toronto's Ontario Place on Monday, May 19, 2014, as she continues her election campaign. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(14 of76)
Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, right, speaks as her wife Jane Rounthwaite looks on during an Ontario Liberal Party rally in Toronto on Friday, May 2, 2014. Wynne called an election for June 12 after NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced that her Party would not support the Liberal's budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Kathleen Wynne and Jane Rounthwaite(15 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, right, and her partner Jane Rounthwaite, left, take selfies with her caucus after speaking during the party's annual general meeting in Toronto on Saturday, March 22, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
JOBS!(16 of76)
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak while campaigning at a food truck festival in Whitby, Ont. on Saturday, May 10, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:The Canadian Press)
'Where The Gas Plants Went'(17 of76)
Ontario Premier and Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne reads to a full day kindergarten class at Westwood Public School in Guelph, Ontario on Wednesday May 14 , 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young (credit:The Canadian Press)
But Seriously... A Billion Dollars(18 of76)
PC Leader Tim Hudak gestures to the the 800-megawatt gas-fired power plant scrapped by the previous Liberal administration, as he talks to the press in Mississauga on Sunday May 18 , 2014. Hudak continues his election campaign. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young (credit:The Canadian Press)
Got This Thing In The Bag(19 of76)
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath purchases groceries at Eraa Supermarket while campaigning in Toronto, Ont. on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:The Canadian Press)
Act Natural(20 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne drives a tractor with instruction from farmer Sandra Vos (right) at a campaign event in Paris, Ontario on Tuesday May 20, 2014, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
Wynne-Two Punch(21 of76)
Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne shows off a pair of boxing gloves she received as a gift, while her partner Jane Rounthwaite (left) looks on in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang (credit:The Canadian Press)
Don't Have A Cow...(22 of76)
Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath answers media questions at a campaign stop at the monument to Springbank Snow Countess, world champion lifetime butterfat producing cow, in Woodstock, Ont., Friday, May 9, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley (credit:The Canadian Press)
Reunited.. And It Feels So Good(23 of76)
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak eats lunch with Foreign Minister John Baird as he attends an event at the Chateau Laurier during an election campaign stop in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. Ontario goes to the polls June 12th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick (credit:The Canadian Press)
Daddy's Girl(24 of76)
Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, hugs his new born baby Maitland Hudak after greeting supporters at his headquarters during a campaign stop in Grimsby, Ont., on Monday, May 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette (credit:The Canadian Press)
Killer Tomatoes(25 of76)
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is seen behind a display of tomatoes while shopping at Eraa Supermarket in Toronto, Ont. on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:The Canadian Press)
HA HA HA!(26 of76)
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak, centre, laughs before he makes an announcement at a packaging plant about creating 40,000 jobs in Ontario with affordable energy during a campaign stop in Smithville, Ont., on Monday, May 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette (credit:The Canadian Press)
HA HA HA HA!(27 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne talks to members of Toronto's Leaside Lawn Bowling Club before addressing the media as she begins her campaign in Ontario's provincial election on Saturday May 3, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young (credit:The Canadian Press)
Gimme...(28 of76)
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak jokes with a man about his ice cream cone at a food truck festival during a campaign stop in Whitby, Ont. on Saturday, May 10, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:The Canadian Press)
In A Glass Case Of Emotion(29 of76)
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak is seen through a reflection in a window while campaigning at Spin Desserts Cafe and Bistro in Burlington, Ont. on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:The Canadian Press)
What's So Funny?(30 of76)
Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne holds Etobicoke-North MPP Dr. Shafiq Qaadri's eight-month-old baby Salman at a campaign stop in Toronto on Monday, May 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
I've Got This...(31 of76)
Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne practices using a drill during a campaign stop at the Carpenters' Union Local 27 Training Centre in Vaughan, Ont. on Monday, May 12, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:The Canadian Press)
Flower Power(32 of76)
Ontario Conservative Party Leader Tim Hudak buys flowers for Mothers Day with his daughter Miller at Growers Flower Market on Avenue Rd. in Toronto on Sunday, May 11, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim (credit:The Canadian Press)
That's How I Bowl(33 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne bowls a ball to formally open Toronto's Leaside Lawn Bowling Club's season as she begins her campaign in Ontario's Provincial election on Saturday May 3, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young (credit:The Canadian Press)
They Call Me DJ Cut & Scrap(34 of76)
PC Leader Tim Hudak talks to the media as he sits at a mixing desk at Metalworks Studios, as he hits the campaign trail in Ontario's Provincial election in Mississauga on Monday May 5 , 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young (credit:The Canadian Press)
The Guy Behind Me Is All Kinds Of Thirsty(35 of76)
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne rests after a run in Milton, Ontario on Monday May 5, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:The Canadian Press)
Subtlety(36 of76)
Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak speaks to a lunchtime meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in London, Ontario, Friday, May 23, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins (credit:The Canadian Press)
'Stand Up' To Harper(37 of76)
Wynne wasted no time criticizing the Harper government in her first speech after announcing a provincial vote had been called for June 12.Wynne said the priorities of her government are increasingly at odds with Ottawa."We need a premier who is willing to stand up to Stephen Harper," she said."The federal government pours billions of dollars into the oilsands, but when it comes to the Ring of Fire, Stephen Harper has not acted." (credit:(Fred Lum/ The Globe and Mail))
Ontario Pension Plan? Meh.(38 of76)
Just hours after the provincial election was called, Harper suggested Wynne's proposal for an Ontario Retirement Pension Plan won't be a hit at the polls.When asked if Wynne could win the election with the plan, the prime minister said increasing taxes isn't the way to go. (credit:(The Associated Press))
Wynne To Harper: 'Move Out Of The Way'(39 of76)
Wynne then called Harper's comments about her pension plan "unusual" and told reporters she's not in the race to run against the prime minister."The first choice would have been to have an improvement and enhancement to the Canada Pension Plan, but the federal government is not interested in doing that," she said."So quite frankly I think that if Prime Minister Harper isn't interested in partnering with us then he should move out of the way." (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Say It Ain't So, Joe(40 of76)
Finance Minister Joe Oliver joined the fray, ripping the budget Wynne tabled a day before calling the election. The spending plan is, essentially, the platform on which Ontario Liberals are running."This is the route to economic decline, not the route to economic growth or job creation," he told CBC Radio's The House.And Oliver made clear he's also no fan of Wynne's pension plan, calling it a $3.5 billion tax on "workers and businesses" that will kill jobs in Ontario."This isn't the time to do it," he said. (credit:(The Canadian Press))
'Nonsense'(41 of76)
And Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford told CBC News that Wynne's comments about alleged Tory inaction on the Ring of Fire file were "nonsense." (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Oh Really?(42 of76)
Wynne didn't care much for Oliver weighing in on her budget.In fact, the Ontario Liberal leader accused Harper of "taking over the Conservative voice in the Ontario election." (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Sorry (But Not Really)(43 of76)
Oliver later denied to reporters he was trying to intrude on the Ontario election, but was careful to repeat his earlier criticism about Wynne's pension proposal."It's not the time, in my opinion, to impose this type of tax when the Ontario economy is so fragile," he said. (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Who Wants To Talk About Harper's Pension?(44 of76)
Wynne then singled out Harper by saying his pension is about 10 times the maximum payout available under the CPP."Stephen Harper when he retires is going to have about 10 times that amount in his pension," she said."So the reality is that if he doesn't believe that the Canada Pension Plan should be enhanced, then he should move out of the way and let Ontario do its work." (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Tony GOES OFF(45 of76)
Treasury Board President Tony Clement then took the fight to Wynne during a segment on CBC's "Power & Politics."The former Ontario MPP didn't mince words, calling Wynne's pension plan proposal a "tax grab" meant to distract from various scandals."She doesn't want to talk about the gas plants scandal, she doesn't want to talk about E-health scandal. She wants to divert attention from her government's terrible record on these things as well as terrible economic record," he said. "So, I'm not going to play into her campaign strategy, quite frankly." (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Smirk-Gate?(46 of76)
Wynne told The Toronto Star that, in a private meeting in December, Harper "smirked' and told her people ought to be saving for their own retirement and not count on the government.“It was their fault and people need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and they need to just save because there's lots of opportunities,” she recalled in the paper. (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Not Quite, Harper Spokesperson Says(47 of76)
Jason MacDonald, Harper's chief spokesperson, suggested to The Star that Wynne wasn't being entirely truthful about her meeting with the prime minister."Presumably she made the comments she made today to distract from her mismanagement of the Ontario economy and the fact that she can’t run on her party’s record," he said. (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Don't Forget About Us(48 of76)
In a speech delivered not far from Parliament Hill, Wynne accused Harper of neglecting Canada's largest province."Right now, on a number of important issues, the interests of the people of Ontario are at odds with the policies of Stephen Harper's government," she said. "In a very real way, the federal government is balancing its budget on the backs of Ontarians." (credit:(The Canadian Press))
Clement Fires Back.. Again(49 of76)
Clement didn't appreciate Wynne's digs at the prime minister and told reporters he wants Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak to win the election."[It's] a campaign technique to deflect attention from the disastrous record of the Ontario Liberal government, economic record as well as gas plants and shredding emails and 40 percent hikes in hydro bills," he told reporters."I personally want the election of Tim Hudak as premier of Ontario. I personally do, but we’ll work with anybody who forms the government, of course, in the national interest and the provincial interest." (credit:The Canadian Press)
No Surprises(50 of76)
Wynne then shot back by saying federal Tories are "attacking" because they don't share her government’s values."We know [Harper] doesn't like it because Tony Clement was sent out to attack today," she told a crowd in Kingston, Ont."Not a surprise that Tony Clement and Tim Hudak would be on the same page, is it? Not a surprise at all." (credit:The Canadian Press)
An Uphill Climb?(51 of76)
Kathleen Wynne is hoping Ontario voters can look past these five scandals when they cast their ballots on June 12.(Information courtesy of The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
Ornge(52 of76)
Ontario's publicly funded air ambulance service has been under fire for almost two years over sky-high salaries, financial irregularities and corruption allegations. A legislative committee has been probing the service's complex structures and pay scales in detail, and opposition parties have been alleging wrongdoing with nearly every revelation. The auditor general has criticized the governing Liberals for failing to oversee Ornge, despite giving it $730 million over five years and allowing it to borrow another $300 million. The Liberals insist Ornge went rogue with a web of for-profit companies and questionable business deals, as well as exorbitant salaries and lavish expenses. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Lars Hagberg)
Cancelled Gas Plants(53 of76)
Scandal has swirled around the government's decision to cancel the construction of two Toronto-area gas plants ahead of the 2011 election, in which the government then led by Dalton McGuinty was reduced to minority status. The cancellation costs have now been pegged at $1.1 billion, but opposition parties have accused the Liberals of actively trying to cover up that figure. Ontario's privacy commissioner has concluded that staff working for McGuinty and a former energy minister broke the law by deleting emails pertaining to the project. Ontario Provincial Police are also investigating the document deletions, seizing government computers at both Queen's Park and beyond. (credit:(Fred Lum/Globe and Mail))
eHealth(54 of76)
The provincial agency was given a $1-billion budget to develop electronic health records, but wound up building themselves a bad reputation. A lot of the eHealth money went for untendered contracts given to highly paid consultants who then billed taxpayers for additional expenses in a scandal that cost former health minister David Caplan his job. In 2009, the auditor general said the agency had very little progress to show for its efforts, and opposition parties have alleged further financial mismanagement since then. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
Windsor Parkway(55 of76)
The government has taken heat for not immediately acting when it learned a $1.4-billion infrastructure project didn't live up to safety standards. The Liberals were told that questionable materials were being used on the support beams on Windsor's Herb Gray Parkway in December 2012, but didn't halt the project until July. More than 500 support beams are being replaced by the project overseer at no cost to the tax payers, but the NDP has accused the Wynne government of trying to cover up the affair and only backing down when threatened with media exposure. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)
PanAm Games(56 of76)
Premier Kathleen Wynne has hailed the 2015 games as a cause for celebration, but opposition parties call it just another scandal. The $1.4-billion budget for the games does not include some key expenses, like the $700 million athletes' village. The government has also come under fire for $7 million worth of bonuses paid out to 64 executives. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynn smiles as she arrives at the Toronto Blue Jays game against the New York Yankees during home opener AL baseball action in Toronto on Friday, April 4, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power (credit:CP)
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, left, and Glen Murray, Minister of Infrastructure, ride the subway while en route to Wynne's speech at the Toronto Region Board of Trade in Toronto Monday, April 14, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese (credit:CP)
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne attends question period at Queen's Park in Toronto on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young (credit:CP)
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is shown outside her office at Queen's Park in Toronto on Thursday, March 27, 2014. Wynne has distanced herself from her predecessor, former premier Dalton McGuinty, following police allegations one of his staffers may have committed breach of trust. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (credit:CP)
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks to supporters and her caucus during the party's annual general meeting in Toronto on Saturday, March 22, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette (credit:CP)
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