One issue that has arisen in the upcoming Provincial Election is education and the segregation of our children vis-à-vis religion. John Tory suggests extending public funding to Jewish, Muslim, and Christian schools as a matter of fairness. The Green Party suggests ending the funding of religious education segregation and having one public system. The Liberals and NDP currently support the status quo of traditionally funding the public system and the Roman Catholic system. The United Nations has condemned Ontario’s discrimination of only funding Roman Catholic religious schools but not other religions. The solution is either to fund all religious sects or to have one united public education system. Using public money to open up more religious schools will open up a Pandora's Box, and one day we might have special interest groups headed by the likes of Tom Cruise demanding the end to discrimination against publicly funded schools of Scientology (or who knows what else). I think separating students based on religion in a public system is lunacy, especially in a multicultural and diverse nation. I would like to see non-partisan religious studies in our public schools, where our students can learn about different world religions, but without having to practice or believe in any specific religion or dogma in the school. Respect for other beliefs is paramount, but this can never be achieved when we divide our children instead of unifying them. If parents bring their children to their place of worship, the children will be able to learn about religion there. Religion and politics are a poor mix, and I think it would be best to keep the two separated at all cost. I think we need to move in the same direction as Manitoba and Newfoundland. I want to see an end to the division of our students based on religion in schools, and instead I want to see one school system that is inclusive and fosters learning and respect for all peoples regardless of their faith. I understand that Canada has two official languages, and I welcome the parent’s choice to have their child study at an English or French school, but under one united public system where public dollars are not spent to fund religious schools.

-Jason Setnyk