McGuinty government’s anti-bullying bill passes on final reading
Posted Jun 5, 2012 12:11:57 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – The McGuinty government’s anti-bullying legislation, Bill 13 — which includes gay-straight alliance clubs in all schools including Catholic schools — passed third and final reading in the Ontario legislature, Tuesday, with a vote result of 65-36.
The Liberals and NDP voted in favour of the Accepting Schools Act, while the Conservatives voted against it.
The Conservatives said the government has no business telling schools they must allow students to form clubs called gay-straight alliances.
Catholic church leaders complained the legislation will force them to accept student clubs that go against their faith.
But Premier Dalton McGuinty said he’s convinced Catholic educators and parents will soon accept that the goal of the law is to make schools safe and accepting places for all children.
McGuinty said the issue of protecting children transcends any one faith and partisan politics, but stopped short of accusing the Tories of homophobia for opposing the bill.
Deputy PC Leader Christine Elliott said McGuinty used the anti-bullying bill to trigger a debate over the funding of Catholic schools and use it as a wedge issue against the Tories.
The New Democrats pushed to have the Liberal bill amended to make sure students could use the word ‘gay’ in the name of their anti-homophobia clubs.
