Catholic schools should not be stripped of public funding for anti-abortion moves like a recent Grade 8 poster contest in Woodstock, but the next premier of Ontario needs to send a strong message that such activities are “not acceptable,” says Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca.
On the first official day of campaigning for the June 2 election, Del Duca said a leaked US Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the right to abortion there means politicians everywhere must be vigilant.
“This is not the right time for us to have a decision about how we can further undermine or disrupt publicly funded education,” Del Duca said when asked about axing public funding for Catholic schools in the wake of a Woodstock contest for students to make anti -abortion signs.
He has acknowledged other Catholic schools have exhibited anti-abortion attitudes and intolerance toward LGBTQ issues and said that he has to stop.
Premier Doug Ford has been missing in action on calling out such behaviour, Del Duca said.
“I don’t think it’s disruptive for a premier in this province to use a podium like this…to make crystal clear statements to everyone, including Catholic school boards across this province, that certain behaviors are not acceptable,” he added outside Wedgewood junior public school in central Etobicoke.
“Premiers can make their voices heard on issues that matter and this one matters a lot,” added the married father of two girls.
Last month, St. Patrick’s Catholic elementary school in Woodstock, near London Ont., had an assignment for Grade 8 students to make anti-abortion posters for marks and to submit to the Oxford County Right-to-Life group for cash prizes in a I answered.
Officials from the London District Catholic School Board said the assignment was part of the “sanctity of life” religion curriculum. Some parents and pupils objected to the assignment and went public with their concerns.
Such assignments are more troublesome in the wake of the Supreme Court leak, Del Duca said, pledging to “protect and enhance” access to safe abortions in Ontario.
“These are rights that cannot be taken for granted. They are frail, there are always those in society who are prepared to try to move us backwards in this regard. Ontario Liberals will not stand for that.”
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