OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor. This open letter to local MPPs is regarding the Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2020. Send your letters to [email protected]
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An open letter to Doug Downey, MPP; Jill Dunlop, MPP; Caroline Mulroney, MPP; Andrea Khanjin, MPP; Jim Wilson, MPP.
I am writing to you today regarding Bill 213, the Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2020.
Specifically, I am writing regarding Schedule 2, which would grant Canada Christian College (CCC) the status of a University and the power to grant bachelor of science and arts degrees. This aspect of the bill greatly concerns me for the following reasons:
First, this bill is being proposed before CCC has been reviewed and approved by the province’s Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board.
Even more concerning is the president of CCC, Charles McVety, who is one of the most homophobic, transphobic, and Islamophbic public figures in Ontario. McVety led the fight against marriage equality in Canada, when he rallied against the federal Trans rights bill he called Trans people “a threat to children,” and he claimed Islam is attempting a “hostile takeover.”
He called the right to a G.S.A. in schools, enshrined by the Accepting Schools Act, an “affront” and he actively challenged the implementation of the 2015 Health and Physical Education Curriculum that affirms diverse youth and families.
As stated by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations: “The Ontario government should not grant accreditation and degree-granting privileges to institutions that do not meet the anti-discriminatory and anti-hate speech principles outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code [OHRC].”
An example of these concerning practices includes CCC’s code of conduct, which was covered by the CBC. Granting this institution, and by extension McVety, these powers weakens the integrity of education in Ontario and challenges the safety and rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people as outlined in the OHRC.
At a time when we should be focusing on responding to the global pandemic, I am instead having to write to you about this bill. I am a constituent in Simcoe County, a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and a student enrolled at Lakehead University.
I am also involved in advocacy around education policy and this bill has raised legitimate concerns for myself and others, concerns which must be addressed by those in power.
I am urging you to remove this schedule from Bill 213 to protect the integrity of education of Ontario and affirm support for human rights and communities.
Anything less will send a message that this government does not work for all Ontarians.
With great concern and urgency,
Brandon Rhéal Amyot
Orillia
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