Canada: Religious accommodation is best approach

The other red herring in this debate is that the prayer services are anti-women. I do not recall seeing women priests in the Catholic tradition, nor full egalitarian treatment of females in a lot of Western religions.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Star | Letters
By  Joel Hertz | The Star | July 19 2011

Re: Prayer in public schools, Letters July 16

This issue will become more important as our communities continue to become even more diversified.

Here in York Region, especially Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill, the populations are very diverse and becoming more so. Most growth will be coming from immigration. If we are not welcoming to new ideas, religions and culture — or for that matter old ideas, religions and culture — why would people want to move here? Of course, Canadian ways should be of interest to newcomers, but surely it is a two-way street.


York Region has been accommodating different religions for many years. As an example, we have a large population of Ahmadiyya Muslim students in Vaughan who attend the public schools, and are accommodated where possible, as to dress and observance of holy days. However, it should not matter what religion is in discussion, our school board recognizes 10 major world religions including Bahai, Jainism and Zoroastrianism, as well as Muslim and Hindu.

Part of the problem in the current situation is blatant Islamophobia. Surely all religions are entitled to practice as they see fit. It is not the place of the government or the school board to meddle in the internal workings of any religion.

The other red herring in this debate is that the prayer services are anti-women. I do not recall seeing women priests in the Catholic tradition, nor full egalitarian treatment of females in a lot of Western religions.

The legal argument that prayer in schools is against the Education Act may be valid; however, the Ontario Human Rights Code, which would likely sanction this activity, appears to have precedence over this issue. Further, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms should trump any of these arguments and allow for accommodation.

Finally, the province of Ontario has recently released a new equity and inclusivity policy that would provide guidance in this area.

Joel Hertz, York Region Trustee, Past Chair of Race Relations Advisory Committee for YRDSB, Thornhill

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