Quebec to ban religious instruction in subsidized daycares

[Jenn! 918]

MONTREAL - Family Minister Yolande James announced a directive Friday ordering all operators of Quebec’s $7-a-day subsidized daycares to cease all religious instruction to children in their charge.

Daycares now dispensing religious instruction will have until June 1, 2011 to phase out religious teaching and if they do not comply they could have their government subsidy “suspended, reduced or cancelled.”

In an interview James drew a parallel with Quebec’s public schools, where religious instruction was ended, making them open to children of all origins.

“There needed to be clarification of what our subsidized daycare services would be allowed or not allowed to do,” James explained.

“As far as subsidized daycares are concerned, we cannot allow what’s called the transmission of faith or all teaching of religion within our subsidized daycares.”

But the ban on “teaching a belief, a dogma or the practice of a specific religion” in a daycare does not ban “cultural diversity or traditional or historical activities,” the minister said.

“Christmas trees, the menorah, and all of these symbols are allowed,” she said.

In issuing the directive, James is following up on a statement by her predecessor as family minister Tony Tomassi, who said in March that religious instruction in subsidized daycares would no longer be tolerated, after media attention focused on daycares dispensing Jewish and Islamic instruction.

Two religious daycares The Gazette contacted Friday would not comment on the directive.

James formed an advisory panel, to guide her in drawing up the directive, which included daycare associations, representatives of the religious daycares and a specialist in religion.

She recalled that in 1997 when Quebec started its subsidized daycare plan, her department agreed to subsidize existing religious daycares.

“Now we are at a different time,” she said. “The society has evolved. So has the community.”

She said the family department did not have a policy on religious instruction and did not have inspectors checking whether religion was being taught. But now her department has increased the number of inspectors.

Asked whether the constitutionality of her directive might be challenged in court, James said she is confident she is on solid legal ground.

“This directive was not in any way improvised,” she said.“It took the necessary time to look at he issues in all ways.”

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Yolande+James+says+subsidized+daycares+teach+religion/3995862/story.html#ixzz18QIS6xGK

[Peikko 1,575]

More evidence of an insidious global plot to 'get' the christians! Don't sit there and take it, the time has come to rise up and be counted!

[james&olya 1,121]

MONTREAL - Family Minister Yolande James announced a directive Friday ordering all operators of Quebec’s $7-a-day subsidized daycares to cease all religious instruction to children in their charge.

Daycares now dispensing religious instruction will have until June 1, 2011 to phase out religious teaching and if they do not comply they could have their government subsidy “suspended, reduced or cancelled.”

In an interview James drew a parallel with Quebec’s public schools, where religious instruction was ended, making them open to children of all origins.

“There needed to be clarification of what our subsidized daycare services would be allowed or not allowed to do,” James explained.

“As far as subsidized daycares are concerned, we cannot allow what’s called the transmission of faith or all teaching of religion within our subsidized daycares.”

But the ban on “teaching a belief, a dogma or the practice of a specific religion” in a daycare does not ban “cultural diversity or traditional or historical activities,” the minister said.

“Christmas trees, the menorah, and all of these symbols are allowed,” she said.

In issuing the directive, James is following up on a statement by her predecessor as family minister Tony Tomassi, who said in March that religious instruction in subsidized daycares would no longer be tolerated, after media attention focused on daycares dispensing Jewish and Islamic instruction.

Two religious daycares The Gazette contacted Friday would not comment on the directive.

James formed an advisory panel, to guide her in drawing up the directive, which included daycare associations, representatives of the religious daycares and a specialist in religion.

She recalled that in 1997 when Quebec started its subsidized daycare plan, her department agreed to subsidize existing religious daycares.

“Now we are at a different time,” she said. “The society has evolved. So has the community.”She said the family department did not have a policy on religious instruction and did not have inspectors checking whether religion was being taught. But now her department has increased the number of inspectors.

Asked whether the constitutionality of her directive might be challenged in court, James said she is confident she is on solid legal ground.

“This directive was not in any way improvised,” she said.“It took the necessary time to look at he issues in all ways.”

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Yolande+James+says+subsidized+daycares+teach+religion/3995862/story.html#ixzz18QIS6xGK

Good for Quebec!

[sly_wolf 199]

Unless its given in French. Communists!

Edited December 18, 2010 by sly_wolf

[slim 1,525]

Now that's how you separate church and state!