NORTH SIMCOE COMMUNITY NEWS - April/May 2008 - 5

The Lord’s Prayer Part of respecting the tradition of the

Legislature is keeping the Lord’s Prayer. That
in the Lord’s Prayer.
Our parliamentary MPP Simcoe North
-- Part of Ontario’s Parliament
GARFIELD
doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be open to other tradition of the Lord’s
by Garfield Dunlop MPP prayers being added, but the assumption that

DUNLOP
Prayer was inherited from
we would eliminate the Lord’s Prayer would Britain and Royal France

A
s MPPs, we commence each working not be acceptable to us. through the Loyalists. Ontario

day in the Legislative Assembly with
the Lord’s Prayer.
But now, Premier McGuinty wants to
“look at how we can move beyond the Lord’s
Prayer to a broader approach that is more
inclusive in nature.” According to McGuinty,
“It’s time for us to ensure that we have a prayer
that better reflects our diversity.”
We’ve all heard the arguments in
favour of “updating and broadening” our
approach before. The main problem with
Mr. McGuinty’s approach is his belief that if
we want to be relevant in today’s culturally
diverse Ontario, we must turn our back on our
historic traditions. According to McGuinty,
our traditions have nothing whatever to tell us
about such important values as inclusiveness
and tolerance in our society today.
This is where I beg to differ.
To go forward on the basis that every time
we want to be culturally inclusive we have to
throw something out that has been part of
our culture over the years, is itself polarizing.
Rather than being divisive, I feel the Lord’s
Prayer is inclusive.
When the first Parliament was established The Loyalists themselves
in Britain, it was held at Westminister in the were Canada’s first
cathedral itself. The altar was removed and the multicultural immigration
Chair of the Speaker was placed on the spot. including the English,
This is why, throughout the parliaments of the Scots, Germans and CONSTITUENCY OFFICES:
English Commonwealth, whenever a Member French. They all began 482 Elizabeth St.
enters or leaves the Chamber, we bow toward each and every one of Midland, Ontario, L4R 1Z8
the Speaker’s Chair. their hard-working days Tel. (705) 526-8671
Parliamentary deliberations were done “in with the Lord’s Prayer. Fax: (705) 526-8600
It was no wonder they
the sight of God” and oaths of allegiance were
taken in the same way. Members of Parliament expected their political 14 Coldwater Rd. W.,
were entrusted with a responsibility for representatives to do the P.O. Box 2320
which they not only had to answer to before same. Orillia, Ontario L3V 6S2
Crown and Country, but also before God. Today, the Lord’s Tel. (705) 326-3246
Parliamentary sessions always opened with Prayer is an integral part of 1-800-304-7341
prayer and the Lord’s Prayer in particular. such diverse backgrounds Fax: (705) 326-9579
Our Ontario Parliament was first as Armenians, Assyrians,
Copts and Ethiopians, e-mail: garfield_dunlopco@ontla.ola.org
established in 1793. Upper Canada’s first
Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe Russians, Romanians
anyone interested in supporting the tradition
tabled anti-slavery legislation, as the first and Poles, variously representing Catholics,
of the Lord’s Prayer at the Legislature.
order of business. Simcoe’s inspiration for Orthodox and Protestants of every rite and
denomination. As well, I am pleased to report that our
these progressive laws came directly from his
Leader, John Tory has asked me to sit on
mentor, the celebrated British abolitionist and As the elected representative for the riding
the all-party committee that will review
Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce. of Simcoe North I am opposed to the removal
McGuinty’s plan to have the Lord’s Prayer
The vision of these men was inspired by a of the Lord’s Prayer. I have made available a
removed from the Legislature.
shared biblical world-view reflected especially petition at my offices in Midland and Orillia for

Warminster Legion Public Speaking

Contest

S
tudents from Notre Dame Catholic School, Marchmont Public School, and
Warminster Public School participated in the Warminster Legion Public
Speaking Contest in February.
Sierra Bianco won for the Intermediate Level and Elysia Jackson won for the
Junior Level. These winners went on to the next level for Zone E4 in Elmvale in
March.
Photo: Back row, L to R: Anastasia Langiano, Murray Fallis, Brian Webb, Katelyn Ayers, Nicole
Couture.
Middle Row, L to R: Emily Ayers, Jessie Gleed, Sierra Bianco.
Front Row, L to R: Kaitlyn Bergsma, Georgia Lee, Alysia Tripp, Elysia Jackson.
Sitting: Emily Cleavely. Missing from Photo: Meghan Wilson.

RESERVED
SEATING

$19
TO RESERVE CALL

705-792-5622
Molson Barrie Community Fund
ed to Q ual i ty
i cat &
ed Se
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-photo by Laura Proctor