Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 30/98) - The Town of Hay River, the community's local education authority and two MLAs have joined in the call for a return of school time religious instruction in the NWT.

Education Minister Charles Dent faced questions on the subject from Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen and Inuvik MLA Floyd Roland in the legislature this month.

"...Will he consider allowing Hay River to reinstate a spiritual education program in the Princess Alexandra and Harry Camsell schools?" Groenewegen asked.

Groenewegen told News/North Dent ordered the classes stopped after visiting her community last year and learning the courses were in existence.

A letter from Dent, requesting all school boards ensure they are in compliance with the updated NWT Education Act, was sent out last February.

Until this fall, religious education has been offered in Hay River's elementary schools for half-hour sessions once a week. The courses were taught by local clergy -- both Protestant and Catholic -- on a volunteer basis and no student was forced to take them, says Pastor Glen Wallington of the Hay River Ministerial Association.

"This is a really important class in giving students important tools for life," he said.

Wallington was among a group of more than 20 Hay River residents who met with Dent in their community last week to discuss the issue.

They say Dent held his ground, telling them school instruction could be arranged, but denominational religious classes could not be offered during regular instructional time.

School facilities, however, could be used outside of school hours to teach such courses, in Dent's view.

In the assembly, Dent told MLAs he is bound by a GNWT Department of Justice opinion recommending the courses not be allowed, in light of changes in Canadian law brought on by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"I do not have the authority to bend the rules," he said.

"It is my opinion that religious instruction can be provided in the school. It cannot be considered as part of the course of instruction. Our Education Act sets a minimum number of hours that students must attend school and, for those hours, there are certain requirements for programs that meet the course of instruction.

"There are ways in which religious matters can be discussed during these courses of instructions, but it could not be what has been done in the past in Hay River."

Groenewegen says this isn't good enough for her.

"We keep talking about community empowerment, community values and community history," she said. "(Well) this is a tradition in Hay River."

The MLA says she'll be contacting groups in Hay River to determine what the next step should be for supporters of the courses.

Hay River's education authority passed a resolution in June calling for the maintenance of the religious classes. It followed that up with a letter sent last month.

Roland told the legislature his constituents have raised similar concerns in meetings with him.