Queer Ontario

PO Box 822, Station A

Toronto, Ontario M5W 1G3
www.queerontario.org

January 24, 2011

Leona Dombrowsky
Minister
Ministry of Education
Mowat Block, 22nd Flr, 900 Bay St
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2

Dear Minister Dombrowsky,

I am writing to you today to request that under Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No.
145 Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour, you intervene in the ongoing
situation with regards to the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) and enforce your policy
requiring school boards to support Gay Straight Alliances (GSA). Specifically, as outlined in PPM 145
under the sub-section titled “Prevention and Awareness Raising”:

“In order to promote a positive school climate, school boards must provide opportunities
for all members of the school community to increase their knowledge and understanding
of such issues as homophobia, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, inappropriate
sexual behaviour, critical media literacy, and safe Internet use. Ontario's curriculum
provides many opportunities for students to develop an understanding of these topics.
Boards must also help school staff to give support to students who wish to participate in
gay–straight alliances and in other student-led activities that promote understanding and
development of healthy relationships. Schools must also engage their school councils and
student councils to support these student-led activities.”

As clearly stated in your policy, “Boards must…help school staff to give support to students who wish to
participate in gay-straight alliances”. Even though the HCDSB voted to rescind their ban on GSAs, it has
become very clear that they have no intention of allowing GSAs to operate within their Board. As they
suggested during the open question period during their most recent meeting held on Tuesday, January 18,
2011, they would look into the creation of a more generalized equity group – a method used by other
Catholic school boards in Ontario – that would tackle issues such as homophobia.

While the work performed by a generalized equity group is valid and admirable, the importance of GSAs
and the specificity of their mandate and work cannot be overstated. Their ability through education to help
unravel the myths surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) persons is valuable not to
mention the support network aspect for these youth who are often marginalized both in their schools and
in their larger communities on the whole.

In a recent study conducted by Egale Canada, three-quarters of LGBTQ students stated that they felt
unsafe in at least one area of their school, with half of their straight peers corroborating the unsafe nature
of high schools for LGBTQ youth. No student, queer or straight, benefits from this kind of learning
environment, nor do they deserve it.

We are requesting from you today that you enforce your policy, as outlined in PPM 145 and that you
intervene for the good of the LGBTQ students attending school in the HCDSB as they have and continue
to be denied the right to form a GSA.
All students benefit from a potential environment that does not tolerate harassment or bullying. Through
the work performed by GSAs, there’s a real opportunity to improve the quality of life for not only
LGBTQ students but the student body on the whole within the HCDSB as well. Please intervene and
enforce your policy to ensure that students in the HCDSB have access to the GSAs they deserve.

Sincerely,

Casey Oraa
Chair
Political Action Committee
Queer Ontario

Cc: Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB)

Tara Elliott, Director of Education, Egale Canada
Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC)
Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)