Teacher Directives During the Federal Election - Question Period
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : My question is for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. During this election and many elections, high schools and junior highs across the province organize candidate forums to engage young people in learning about the democratic process. Regrettably, in this election some politicians are spreading racist messages regarding immigrants, refugees, and other diverse members of our communities.
In Nova Scotia, the People's Party of Canada and the National Citizens Alliance are running candidates in several ridings. Some teachers have received a directive that candidates in a riding must be invited - all must be invited if one is invited.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister confirm that his department issued a directive that teachers could face discipline for not inviting PPC and NCA candidates into their classrooms?
HON. ZACH CHURCHILL » : We did leave the decision here with the department staff and also the union to come up with a strategy for this. We did not think it was appropriate to have the political wing of government involved with that.
The rationale behind allowing all candidates to participate is simply one of fairness. This is the democratic process. We do want our students to be able to hear the various thoughts and opinions that are out there and understand the debate. However, we do have some protections in place when it comes to language around hate or discrimination. That is found in our code of conduct and any visitor, including a candidate of a particular Party, would need to follow that code of conduct to enter into one of our schools. If they do not follow that code of conduct, they will be asked to leave.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I thought that the buck passing stopped with the elimination of school boards, but apparently not. I would be shocked to hear our colleagues in the education centres and the unions agree with this decision.
Mr. Speaker, the Education Act defines unacceptable behaviour as behaviour that endangers the well-being of others or significantly disrupts the learning of others and includes discriminatory behaviour or racist behaviour. I think we're all sophisticated enough in this Chamber to understand what a dog whistle is, and that's something that can fall on the ears of a 16- or 17-year-old the same way it can fall on ours.
Records obtained by media show that the former leader of the U.S. neo-Nazi group and a former Soldiers of Odin member were among those whose signatures were submitted to Elections Canada last year to register the People's Party, with no review from her Party. The candidate for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook has tweeted that Islam is pure evil; Islam has no place in Canadian society.
Mr. Speaker, does the minister agree that inviting these Parties into schools violate the standards of behaviour set out in the Education Act?
ZACH CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, if a candidate or any visitor into any of our schools on any given day - even during a federal election - exhibits behaviour or voices opinions that are not in line with the Education Act or the code of conduct, they are not welcomed into the school or, if they're in the school, they will be asked to leave.
We do have policies in place to protect our students from this sort of language and behaviour.
THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Argyle-Barrington.