Article by the Hon. Joe Volpe — Video CNMNG Staff

TORONTO – News flash to the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC): schools, both Catholic and Public, are closed. Schools have been shuttered for some time, even if the OHRC has been unaware of that fact.

Still, for some unexplainable reason, on June 1, its chief Commissioner, Ena Chadha thought it would be a teachable moment too good to pass up. She sent a letter to the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) reminding them of their “obligation” under the Education Act to fly the rainbow flag in June or face consequences before her tribunal. You see, the HCDSB on April 26 decided that it already had two symbols of inclusivity: the Canadian flag and the Christian cross.

However, Stephen Lecce, Minister (for way too long) of Education, has other plans and instructed the OHRC to remind them who is the boss.

In its letter, the OHRC reveals that it has also apparently bought into the unsubstantiated, undocumented claim that Catholic Schools in Ontario are “unsafe” for children who self-identify as non-heterosexual. Somehow, their “safety” can only be guaranteed if their schools fly the rainbow flag in front of the symbol of Christian inclusiveness – the cross.

As I said, the schools, all schools, are closed. They are now “safe spaces”. How do I know?

On June 1, I did a random sampling of schools on my way to work to see if schools nearby were “flying the flag”, as per the OHRC “directive” suggesting/requiring the HCDSB to do what their colleagues in Toronto were doing to make the Minister happy – read our article here: The Ontario Human Rights Commission threatens Catholic schools … four of six Public schools were not.