Catholic Students for GSAs

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2549

This is an amendment to the Education Act that was proposed by the Minister of Education today.

Its pretty good, and has good intention, but I think some of the wording could be less vague, particularly in subsection 9, which reads as follows:

9. The Act is amended by adding the following section:

Board support for certain pupil activities and organizations

303.1 Every board shall support pupils who want to establish and lead,

(a) activities or organizations that promote gender equity;

(b) activities or organizations that promote anti-racism;

(c) activities or organizations that promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people with disabilities; or

(d) activities or organizations that promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name gay-straight alliance or another name.

My issue with this is that “supporting pupils who want to establish and lead groups” could be interpreted as supporting the students themselves, as in, providing alternative supports, as opposed to supporting the actual groups that the students wish to form. Also, “activities and organizations that promote awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities” could be interpreted as groups that include, but are not limited to, promoting awareness about such things. Thus, by allowing only a general equity group or “umbrella” group, a board could argue that they are not in violation of this legislation.

I think that the aforementioned sections should be amended as follows:

303.1 Every board shall support pupils in their endeavors to establish and lead,

(d) activities or organizations of which the primary focus is to promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name gay-straight alliance or another name.

Despite whatever legislation is out there, its insignificant if it is not enforced or enacted properly. Ultimately, what matters most is how this legislation is interpreted and carried out by individual schools and/or school boards, and how the ministry will hold boards accountable if they fail to comply with or effectively enact the legislation.

- Leanne Iskander