Ontario Tories distance themselves from MPP who doesn’t believe in evolution

TORONTO – Ontario Tories are distancing themselves from one of their colleagues who says he doesn’t believe in evolution.

Progressive Conservative Rick Nicholls raised eyebrows Tuesday when he responded to a Liberal taunt by saying opting out of teaching students evolution “was not a bad idea.”

Nicholls’s heckle during the debate on the updated sex-education curriculum raised howls from the Liberal and NDP benches and raised eyebrows among some of his fellow Conservatives.

Interim PC leader Jim Wilson says Nicholls’s views on evolution are not shared by the majority of the Tory caucus, and admits the outburst “obviously didn’t help” the party.

Nicholls, who represents the Chatham-Kent-Essex riding, says he was being flippant in response to the education minister’s tone, but admits he does not believe in evolution, adding “that is a personal stance.”

PC house leader Steve Clark says he talked with Nicholls on Tuesday about his evolution comment, but Nicholls insists none of his colleagues raised any concerns with him, although he did see some remarks reported in the media.

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