The Hanover School Division in Steinbach voted against a motion for the division to pressure Education Minister Nancy Allan to alter the wording of the province’s anti-bully Bill-18.
Trustee Lynn Barkman made the motion. She and other community members want the province to alter or remove sections of the bill that require schools to allow gay-straight alliances to form.
This is what 95 per cent of my constituents want. This is for them,” she said.
Opponents of the bill take issue with the fact it singles out gay-straight alliances for protection while omitting other groups. Supporters say each school division will be able to draft their own human diversity policy identifying any groups they wish.
Take the side of the weak and vulnerable, that's what Jesus would do,” said John Neufeld, who supports the bill.
“There are many other groups that deserve protection and we will be able to assess that on an individual basis,” said trustee Rubi Wiens.
The province expects Bill-18 to pass in time for the new school year in September.
- With a report by Ben Miljure
