In December, the Manitoba Provincial Government introduced Bill 18.
While the government says the Bill is about combating bullying it does much more than that.
Portions of the Bill could require schools, including faith based independent schools, to act in ways that are against their values and beliefs.
Bill 18 requires schools to accommodate and promote student groups that have values and beliefs in direct contradiction to many faith based independent schools and in contradiction to the communities many public schools are located.
The Bill also specifically grants legal protection to certain groups while excluding others from that same protection.
This should be a concern to all parents whether their children attend a public or an independent school.
Community values should be respected and local initiatives should be allowed to ensure all students have a safe and welcoming learning environment.
In particular, when parents and students choose an independent faith based school they do so specifically because it offers a certain school environment and set of values.
Bill 18 erodes that choice by requiring these schools to accommodate and promote groups whose beliefs are in direct contradiction to the teachings of many independent faith based schools.
The Manitoba government should look for democratic and inclusive ways to combat bullying.
Forcing public and faith based independent schools to act against their beliefs and their community values is not the way to combat bullying.