Public Education Exemptions
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Culture and Community Spirit has been musing aloud recently about a proposal to entrench parents with a legal right to prevent their children from receiving education on any subject or issue that these parents regard as unacceptable from a religious perspective. There are a number of unanswered questions and long-ranging consequences from such a legislative change. My questions are to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. Will any parameters be placed on this parental opt-out? For example, can parents remove children from a classroom if a non-Christian-based religion is being taught?
Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, when I was asked by a member of the media about parental rights, it was in response to the hon. Minister of Education who in this House answered that particular question and I expect said that the United Nations has it entrenched in its particular charter. It was a comment at the time. We haven’t made any decisions as a caucus on human rights legislation on the whole. When we have something to report, we’ll bring that to this House.
Ms Blakeman: Well, thank you very much. One of the questions that keeps coming up is around sexual orientation. Back to the same minister: can the minister explain where in the curriculum sexual orientation is taught? Is there a module for gay 101 or some sort of course that they take that a parent could remove a child from? Could you explain that, please?
Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, I don’t understand where the member is going here. I’m not the Minister of Education. As far as I know, sexual orientation, as far as I can see with my own kids in the educational system, isn’t there, so I don’t see what the point of the question is.
The Acting Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Excellent response. Back to the same minister: why is the minister contemplating changing the Human Rights Act when the ultimate goal of this administration is to give direction to the school board and to the curriculum, which is exactly what the minister has noted? So why the Human Rights Act?
The Acting Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Blackett: Well, funny enough, Mr. Speaker, I was in here on the first day I think some time over 12 months ago, and I’ve nothing from the opposition on the Human Rights Act. If you look at Hansard, they have asked no question about having sexual orientation included in the Human Rights Act and having it done immediately.
Ms Blakeman: What? Are you crazy?
Mr. Blackett: Sexual orientation. Am I crazy? Look at Hansard. You’re a one-trick pony. Are you kidding? Am I crazy?
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