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Controversy has broken out on the Burnaby campaign trail over an irrational rumour that schools will inject a serum into students that will turn them gay.

Burnaby Citizens Association's Harman Pandher discovered the rumour while visiting residents door-to-door, according to the Burnaby Now. He said he found out from residents that the rumour was being circulated through flyers and at the Bonsor Recreation Centre, and was occuring within the Mandarin-speaking community.

The rumour was allegedly being spread by a Burnaby First Coalition volunteer.

Burnaby First Coalition's mayoral candidate Daren Hancott was reported saying that he was unaware of the rumour and BFC campaign chair Bruce Friesen also denied that anyone involved in their campaign was involved in this rumour. The BFC is the civic party seeking to unseat current Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan (of the Burnaby Citizens' Association) in the upcoming municipal election.

Burnaby Citizens' Association's Katrina Chen also was reporting saying that she was contacted by a Mandarin-speaking acquaintance who said many parents were concerned. Chen also received a letter at her home, written in Chinese, from B.C. Parents' Voice who encouraged voters to support the BFC.

Controversy about LGBT issues arose in Burnaby in 2011 when the Burnaby School District attempted to pass antihomophobia policy 5.45, but faced opposition from Parents' Voice, which included current BFC candidates Charter Lau, Heather Leung, and Helen Ward.