[Mustang1]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

Don't know how it works in Ontario but out here the Provincial Government runs a standardized School System with school boards being subordinate to them.

This could very well be a precedent setting case and forcing one school board to make a decision that could have major ramifications for the province or even the country is a completely irresponsible action by the Ontario Government.

You may not think this is a political issue but the reality is different. Just look at the special interest groups protesting and remember that in Canada the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so these same groups likely won't forget Daltons Governments refusal to make a decision on what they see as religous favoritism.

Maybe he should have passed it off to the Ontario HRC, but either way, good leadership demands that in cases like this the guy with the gold braid on his shoulder makes the tough decisions and doesn't pass it off to a group of lower deckers which is what is happening now.

Education is a provincial jurisdiction - that was entrenched in the BNA Act (1867), therefore this has little to do with Alberta.

Secondly, The Education Act stipulates that religious accommodation can be permitted, but, "a board shall not permit any person to conduct religious exercises or to provide instruction that includes indoctrination in a particular religion or religious belief in a school." This is a board issue, but remember that next time some one complains about "Christmas" being replaced, omitted or altered in school systems.

[Zipperfish]

If we got rid of the Freedom of Religion in the Constitution, then there would be no duty to accommodate. Unfortunately, the Muslims are backed by the Christians, the Jews, the Sikhs and all the other religions for Constitutional protection to make society adapt to their beliefs. These "faith-based" groups protesting won't be advocating removing freedom of religion from the Constitution, I'm betting.

Hilarious--I used to get sent home for wearing t-shorts of bands that I liked.

[ShepherdsDog]

I had my ghetto blaster confiscated because of a certain Pink Floyd song being played on it in....and everyone in the study hall joining in quite loudly. I was told I was being subversive.

[Freakinoldguy]

Who said anything about Alberta?

Control exercisable by Minister

230.5 (1) Where the Lieutenant Governor in Council has made an order under subsection 230.3 (2) in respect of a board, the Minister has control and charge over the board generally with respect to any matter in any way affecting the board’s affairs. 2000, c. 11, s. 7.

Denominational, linguistic and cultural issues

230.19 (1) Nothing in this Part authorizes the Minister to interfere with or control,

(a) the denominational aspects of a Roman Catholic board;

(b) the denominational aspects of a Protestant separate school board; or

(c) the linguistic or cultural aspects of a French-language district school board. 2000, c. 11, s. 7.


So, since this hot button topic doesn't fall under any of the above statements and the Minister has control and charge of the board if necessary, shouldn't the Ministry of Education be making the call and letting the local school board off the hook instead of hanging them out to dry?

Like I said before you've got what really boils down to a small group of local people making decisions that they never signed on for which may or may not have major ramifications across the board.

[Smacle]

Fair enough. I still think he should leave it to the School board, in Alberta they let the School board make a lot of decisions. Like when they said, we can afford to give you the 4% raise that we promised but it will cost 1000 jobs, or you can choose to put off the raise for a couple of years and secure those jobs... The School board chose to get the raise cuz well the board wasn't going to lose any jobs. The School boards are more than able to make these decisions and pin it on the politicians.

[Mustang1]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

Who said anything about Alberta?

Sorry, I thought you were from Albertat, but it still doesn't change the fact that under Sec 93 of the Constitutional Act, provinces control education

Control exercisable by Minister

230.5 (1) Where the Lieutenant Governor in Council has made an order under subsection 230.3 (2) in respect of a board, the Minister has control and charge over the board generally with respect to any matter in any way affecting the board’s affairs. 2000, c. 11, s. 7.

Denominational, linguistic and cultural issues

230.19 (1) Nothing in this Part authorizes the Minister to interfere with or control,

(a) the denominational aspects of a Roman Catholic board;

(b) the denominational aspects of a Protestant separate school board; or

(c) the linguistic or cultural aspects of a French-language district school board. 2000, c. 11, s. 7.


So, since this hot button topic doesn't fall under any of the above statements and the Minister has control and charge of the board if necessary, shouldn't the Ministry of Education be making the call and letting the local school board off the hook instead of hanging them out to dry?

Like I said before you've got what really boils down to a small group of local people making decisions that they never signed on for which may or may not have major ramifications across the board.

This also relates to the topic,

(3) A board may permit a person to conduct religious exercises or to provide instruction that includes indoctrination in a particular religion or religious belief in a school if,
(a) the exercises are not conducted or the instruction is not provided by or under the auspices of the board;
(b) the exercises are conducted or the instruction is provided on a school day at a time that is before or after the school's instructional program, or on a day that is not a school day;
(c) no person is required by the board to attend the exercises or instruction; and
(d) the board provides space for the exercises or instruction on the same basis as it provides space for other community activities. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 298, s. 29 (3).
(4) A board that permits religious exercises or instruction under subsection (3) shall consider on an equitable basis all requests to conduct religious exercises or to provide instruction under subsection (3). R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 298, s. 29 (4).

It is a board matter - now, i don't personally agree with the TDSB actions, but this isn't simply a matter for the Premier to intervene. Let the board handle it or watch it become a Charter challenge. Many schools provide religious services during the day (and in Ontario's unique case, a separate, publicly-funded Roman Catholic board) and as i stated before, i guess if you want a faith-free institution, out with Christmas and its associated imagery and lessons too?

[Bacardi4206]

This is really ridiculous, they stopped people from saying the Lord's prayer to not offend other religious people. They changed the Lyrics to our national anthem as to not offend other people. The whole country goes on some crusade to prevent people from saying things like Merry Christmas as to not offend other religion people. Yet here they are bending over backwards to accomidate a selective group of religious people? I'm not even religious and I find that extremely ridiculous. I had no problem with schools making some religious cuts in school. Taking out this word or stopping religious prayer but you can't cut that from one religion group to give that right to another. That's just fucked up.

[martin14]

Bacardi4206 Bacardi4206:

This is really ridiculous, they stopped people from saying the Lord's prayer to not offend other religious people. They changed the Lyrics to our national anthem as to not offend other people. The whole country goes on some crusade to prevent people from saying things like Merry Christmas as to not offend other religion people. Yet here they are bending over backwards to accomidate a selective group of religious people? I'm not even religious and I find that extremely ridiculous. I had no problem with schools making some religious cuts in school. Taking out this word or stopping religious prayer but you can't cut that from one religion group to give that right to another. That's just fucked up.

Reps incoming...