More religious leaders oppose anti-bullying legislation

The battle over the province’s controversial anti-bullying bill is heating up as more religious groups come forward, opposing the legislation.

“There is, I think an area here that the province should not be getting involved in,” said Rabbi Avrohom Altein with the Jewish Learning Centre.

Rabbi Altein, along with members from the Muslim, Sikh and Coptic religions have sent letters to the Selinger government, claiming the bill infringes on their religious freedoms.

Along with preventing bullying, the bill would force all schools, including religious schools to support gay-straight alliances, which some community leaders say goes against their beliefs.

“We have to make sure we protect, we don’t force individual religious groups to conform to what’s popular in a culture at a time,” said Rabbi Altein.

“We are going to provide a safe and caring learning environment for all of our students at all of our schools in the province of Manitoba,” said Education Minister Nancy Allan.

It comes a week after a Pastor in Steinbach raised the issue with his congregation.

Friday, Tory Members of Parliament also got involved.

“They do have concerns about the way they’ll be able to deliver education in their faith based schools,” said South Winnipeg MP Rod Bruinooge, “I think they have a valued concern so I’ve let the Premiers office know of my concern.”

“My concerns only relate to faith based schools,” said Provencher MP Vic Toews, “the provincial government is entitled to do what it wishes to do in respect to the broader educational agenda.”

Education Minister Nancy Allan says while she’s open to discussions, there are no plans to re-write the proposed legislation.

“At this point, we’re not looking to make changes, but this is a long process.”