Let Our Kids Celebrate Christmas: MP Reid

Ottawa –Local MP Scott Reid calls on Tri-Board Student Transportation Services to lift their ban on Christmas cheer in area school busses.  Two school bus drivers from Kingston were recently told they cannot decorate their school busses for Christmas or dress-up in festive costumes because, as they were told, they “transport students from a variety of ethnic and religious groups.”

“I have witnessed with disappointment the semi-official erosion of our traditions over the years,” commented Scott Reid.  “By the time I was first elected in 2000, successive governments had erased any hint of spiritual or religious content from virtually every public celebration.”

“The fact of the matter is that the world is full of different people with different traditions and different religious beliefs.  Attempting to create an atmosphere where everybody hides their traditions and beliefs when they’re in public is the least tolerant system I can think of.”

Anyone who wants to make their voice heard about this matter are encouraged to get in touch with Tri-Board Student Transportation Services or their Member of Provincial Parliament.  Local MPP Randy Hillier has created an online petition calling for the ban on Christmas decorations to be repealed that is available on his website.

In a statement released Wednesday, Tri-Board Student Transportation Services was backpedalling.  The statement claims that Christmas decorations weren’t banned because of concerns over “students from a variety of ethnic and religious groups,” as was initially stated, but over concerns about safety.

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For further information contact:

Phil Joannou
Communications Assistant to Scott Reid, MP
613-947-2277

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