Loading...
11 14 1991 Legislative Assembly - Correspondence®':©ice Ontario LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY DIANNE CUNNINGHAM, MPP London North Chief Whip November 14, 1991 L Mrs. Carmen Spencer and Mrs. Katherine Jhangman RR #1 Hawkestone, Ontario LOL 1T0 Queen's Park Office: Constituency Office: Room 172 1135 Adelaide St. N. Legislative Building Unit 119 Queen's Park London, Ontario Toronto, Ontario N5Y 5K7 M7A 1A8 (519) 432-7339 Tel. (416) 325-7744 Fax (519) 432-0613 Fax (416) 325-7739 Dear Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Jhangman: Thank you very much for expressing your concerns about the ministerial ruling banning lunch hour Religious Programs. I have received many phone calls and letters from citizens who have very ligitimate concerns. Because of the Ontario Court ruling which found that teaching any one religion in public school classrooms violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, public boards can only teach indoctrinational religious classes outside the school day. Based on this ruling, school boards initiated voluntary lunch hour religious education classes. Subsequently, the Minister of Education ruled that lunch hour constitutes part of the school day. Therefore, boards cannot make the lunch hour accessible for this kind of activity. As the Progressive Conservative Education Critic I believe the Ministry made the wrong decision. This policy discriminates against students who travel by school bus and are therefore unable to attend religious classes before or after class. Please be assured that I will continue to speak on your behalf in the Legislature. Again, thank you very much for contacting me. I appreciate your thoughts on this issue. Sincerely, Dianne Cunningham,-M.P.P. London North l Ontar o Ministry of Education Ministere de ('Education MEMORANDUM TO: (416) 365 5277 (416) 325-2600 CHAIRPERSONS OF BOARDS PRESIDENTS AND CHAIRPERSONS OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM: THE HONOURABLE MARION BOYD /r S DATE: AUGUST 8, 1991 SUBJECT: CLAUSE 235(1)(c) OF THE EDUCATION ACT Mowat Block Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1L2 edifice Mowat Queen's Park Toronto (Ontario) M7A 1L2 Consideration is being given toamending— clause 235 (1) (c) of the T duca ? pn Ark' - The enclosed issue sheet outlines the background for this initiative and a recommended amendment. I invite you and your caw, mments on_the matter. Your submission should be sent by September 20, 1991 )o: Ms. Julie A. Lindhout, Director, Legislation -Branch, 18th Floor, Mowat Block, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1L2. Thank you for your co-operation. Marion Boyd Minister Enclosure mLo aun, 1 Ue Udy Lfeuemue1' LORRIE GOLDSTEIN i, fin lil I..fIV�Ieldy11�4G4d j,i16'r iiblt�ll�:Wii1LIU1L1 I..,ki [o offence taken ave just two words to say to all of you Christians out ;re at this time of year. Ylerry Christmas. I would simply like to add that for the life of me I have understood the politically correct movement of our times ainate any and all traces of Christmas from school con - greeting cards and the like. my money, it is a dumb, divisive and unnecessary policy mainly by gutless politicians and their bureaucrats who, it perennial desire to offend no one, end up offending one. the thought, frankly, that all this is somehow being done behest of people like myself — a member of the non - an minority of Canada — fills me with embarrassment. the record, nobody ever asked me if I, as a Jew, was ad by the use of the term "Christmas" at Christmas. ey had, I would have told them to get stuffed and to stop ig resentment and misunderstanding where none exists. as Canada, with its Christian (still) majority, that wel- my late father here as a six -year -old child after he was led out of Russia which at that time was undergoing one nany anti-Semitic "pogroms." we me, pogroms I find offensive. Anti-Semitism, I find ve. Nazism, I find offensive. Christmas cards, Christmas carols and school Christmas is offensive— even if they happen to be held at my kids' school using my tax dollars? Don't be absurd. Lis predominantly Christian (still) country, my family and y enjoy complete religious freedom. That's all we ever — equal treatment before the law. Not special treatment, in case no one has noticed lately, equal treatment is sore than most countries extend to their minorities. vhy in heaven's name would we be offended by Christ - More to the point, why would those of you in the majority Lbide our politicians undermining Christmas for the sake Leasing a handful of professional malcontents who will be satisfied no matter what you do for them? t — any reference to Christmas offends them? Well, some deserve to be offended. Hey, if you want to throw in ukkah song or two during the local school Christmas con- be "sensitive" or "thoughtful," well that would be just But you don't have to. I won't be offended. I'll teach my bout Hanukkah. I'll pay- for them to learn Hebrew. just for the record, all you members of that much -ma - Christian majority did more than enough when you gave freedom to do all those things without having to worry n the middle of the night a collection of stormtroopers beat down our door and take us away. nk you for that. And given that reality, I've never felt weatened by cards that read "Merry Christmas" instead ason's Greetings." Nor does my family. know who we are. We are not victims in need of protec- Dur faith won't wither and die because we happen to gar a Christmas carol. Actually, carols are kind of nice. sere at the Goldstein household, we promise not to be ed if you happen to mention "Christmas" in our pres- Heck, we won't even haul you before the Human Rights fission. Merry Christmas. 12 The Toronto Sun, Tuesday December 24, 1991 LORRIE GOLDSTEIN Merrily incorrect Have yourself a merry little politically incorrect Christ- mas. That means you get to celebrate the birth of Christ, and sing Christmas carols and wish one another "Merry Christ- mas" without feeling guilty about it. It means you don't have to apologize for being who you are. Frankly it means that, being in the majority, you get to enjoy the same rights as everyone in the minority. Being politically incorrect is particularly important nowadays in this, our most politically correct of nations. Because our great mistake has been in assuming that politi- cal correctness is merely a wingy hodge-podge of dumb, left- wing ideologies and dogmas confined mainly to university cam- puses. While that may have been the American experience, in Canada, political correctness is a way of life. Our way of life. It has infected the mainstream of all of our traditional politi- cal parties and our Media for more than a generation. It is a rigid, progressive orthodoxy on .issue after issue, espousing the absurd viewpoint that there is only one "correct" view of the world and that anyone who believes anything else is basically a cretin. Don't believe me? Okay — name me one leader of a• traditional federal party who supports the return of capital punishment even though the vast majority of Canadians do. How about • one major traditional political leader who is against recognizing Quebec as a distinct society despite the widespread opposition to this idea in English Canada? How about one traditional political leader who even acknowl- edges the widespread public anger over such failed and divisive policies as official bilingualism and multiculturalism? The bizarre thing in this country is that people who espouse such contrary views — even though they're often speaking for the majority of their fellow Canadians — are instantly vilified as racists, bigots, rednecks, etc. What's worse, our politicians try to pretend they aren't even there. Remember Keith Spicer? His commission was supposed to find out what Canadians really thought about their Constitution. Canadians overwhelmingly told Spicer they didn't want dis- tinct society status for Quebec because they thought all prov- inces should be treated equally. They also said they were fed up with things like official bilingualism and multiculturalism. So what happened? The Spicer commission recommended in favor of the distinct society. To be fair, it also called for a review of official bilingualism and a minor downsizing of offi- cial multiculturalism —both of which were ignored by the feds. And then these same politicians have the gall to wonder why the vast majority of Canadians have simply lost interest in the Constitution and are just trying to ride out the recession. And yet even as they do that, they watch helplessly as eco- nomic neophytes like Bob Rae's New Democrats at Queen's Park worry themselves silly, through programs like employ- ment equity, about hiring more women, minorities, disabled and natives when the real problem is that our economy is such a mess that nobody's hiring anybody. But at least Rae is politically correct. And so in the spirit of the season I hope that he, and Brian Mulroney and Jean Chre- tien and Audrey McLaughlin all have a very happy Winter Festival. And to the rest of you, Merry Christmas. (some) Suggestion of content to be presented to the Simcoe -County Board of Education: The Education System in the Province of Ontario has been under the basis of Public and Separate School, with now an added French Separate School System. It would appear that the governing bodies of the School System have elected to by pass the general principles of Christianity in a Country that claims to be tmmmdxmm a Christian Country, with principles and morals based on Christianity. It would now appear that the Ministry of Education under the present Government t ropose to reverse these principles and amend the Education Act to completely abolish any teaching of the standards of moral and Christian principles. Accordingly, it would appear that aethistic principles would be easier. and less contraVersial for the governing bodies of our Education System to adhere to, in their decision making process without taking a strong stand for the tmmxiimg continuance of teach- ing of all moral and Christian principles. It is therefore recommended by the Committee, appointed by the concerned Chritian members of all Churches of the Protestant Denominations in the Township of Oro, that the im g.e Board of Education sincerely endeavour to maintain tkm e- n Z35'-(r}(c)of the Education Act and not support the proposed amendment to the Education Act, as far as the Protestant System of Education (Public and Secondary) Schools are concerned, since apparently the amendment to the Edcuation Act does in no way appear to affect the Separate School System. This System is at liberty to practise Chritian principles and teachings. It has also been brought to the attention of the Concerned Citizens of the Churches of Protestant Denomination that some successful Bible Classes taught at various Public Schools in the Township of Oro have now been stopped by the Simcoe County Board of Education. These classes were held on a voluntary basis, where- by students wishing to attend these classes brought written pert. mission from their:parents to xttmm#tmm attend same during non school ciriculum class time. However, it appears that at some point and time one parent complained to a School Board that their child or some child objected to attending such classes, during a noon hour or other times after or before school hours. It Aould appear that *one complaint from someone that did not wish any Christian teaching for their child supercedes the larger majority that appreciated such teaching. Again, this being any easy way out for the governing bodies of our Education System and not taking a stand towards moral and Chritian practise in a Christian based Country. f (some), Suggestion of content to be presented to the Simcoe ounty Board of Pducrtion: The Education System in the Province of Ontario has been under the basis of Public and Separate School, with ncw an added French Selarate School System. It would appear that the governing bodies of the School System have elected to by sass the general princirles of Christianity in a Country that claims to be ixxutxxx a Christian Countyy, with princirles and morals based on Christianity. It would now a:rear that the linistry of Education under the present Government :-ropose to reverse these principles and amend the Educaticn Act to completely abolish any teaching of the standards of moral and Christian principles. Accordingly, ic would a1lear that aethistic principles would be easier and loss contr&Versial for the governing bodies of our Tducation System to adhere to, in their decision_ making process, without taking a strong stand for the txxmkcg continuance of teach+ ing of all 'oral and Christian rinciples. It is therefore recommended by the Committee, appointed by the concerned Chritian members of all Churches of the Protestant Denominations in the Township. of Oro, th;. t the e Board of Educ :tion sincerely endeavour to maintain tkx n , r(1lty of the Fducction Act and not support the prlposed amendment to the Education Act, as far as the i rotestant System of Education (Public and Seetodary) Schools are concerned, since apparently tha amendment to the Eccuc tion Act c;,,es in no ray appear to affect the Separate School System. This System is at liberty to practise Chritian principles and teachings. It has also been brought to the attention of the Concerned Citizens of the Churches of Protestant Denomination that some successful 3ible Classes taught at various Public Schools in the To:wnshil of Oro have now been stopped by the Sirmcoe County Board of Education. These cl_.sses were held on a voluntary basis, where- by students wishing to attend these classes brought written per- mission from th; t:.rrrents to xictmmtxnp attend same during non school ciriculuclass time. I'oiieve, it appears that at some coint and time cne parent complained to a School Board that their child or some child objected to attending such classes, during a noon hour or other times after or before school hours. It mould apear that atone complaint from someone that did not wish any Christian teaching for their child su:'ercedes the larger majority that appreciated such teaching. Again, this being any easy gay out for the governing bodies of our Education System and not taking a stand towards moral and Chritian practice in a Christian 'based Country. 2 On motion of Bernice :tickling nc' Earl Robortskn