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November 24, 1997
(Education)

The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

The Joint Committee of the House of Commons and the Senate is today beginning its second and final week of hearings on the resolution to amend Term 17.

Last week when I attended the hearings in Ottawa, the Conservative Senators on the committee began suggesting amendments to the new Term 17.

They want to eliminate the parts of the Term that guarantee religious education and observances in our schools. They argue that this has no place in the Constitution of Canada.

This is a major shift from a resolution which was overwhelmingly supported in the province by a referendum and unanimously endorsed by all members in the House of Assembly.

The decision to amend Term 17 did not come lightly, and the particular language used to express the will of the people in the constitution was carefully considered. It was the result of consultation, discussion and debate.

The resolution to amend Term 17 originates in this province. It has been developed as a result of events that have transpired over many years.

The education system in Newfoundland and Labrador is unique in our country. It always has been and, it will continue to be. While the people of our province strongly endorse the removal of churches from the governance of education, there is a strong desire to maintain religious education and observances in our schools.

The language in the new Term 17 was chosen very carefully in the context of the situation in Newfoundland and Labrador - a situation best understood by those who actually live in the province.

This government strongly urges both the House of Commons and the Senate to approve the new term, as endorsed by all members of this House. We oppose any proposal put forward by Conservative Senators that would remove a constitutionally guaranteed right to religious education and observances from our schools.

I will be returning to Ottawa later this week to make a concluding presentation to the Joint Committee and I will again stress the position unanimously endorsed by this Legislature.