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Press Releases 2008
February 14, 2008 KLEES: Lord’s Prayer an Important Part of Ontario’s Progressive Past and Dynamic Present
(Queens’ Park) In response to Dalton McGuinty's call to strike an all-party committee that would consider removing the Lord's Prayer from the daily opening exercises of the Legislature, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees said he would "resist any such attempt to tamper with the historic traditions of the Parliament of Ontario.” Klees said he has no issue with recognizing the multi-faith character of Ontario, but that “inclusiveness means the inclusion of the Lord’s Prayer that has been an integral part of our parliamentary tradition since it was first established in 1793 under Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe.” Klees added that Simcoe’s mentor was the famous abolitionist and British Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce, whose progressive, anti-slavery movement was rooted in a biblical Judeo-Christian inspiration. "We all acknowledge and celebrate the multicultural diversity of our province, but to eliminate such an important part of Ontario’s spiritual and parliamentary heritage that is the Lord’s Prayer would definitely work against that same principle of inclusiveness.” “This would only result in a polarization among Ontarians and would do untold damage to the comprehensive character of our province’s historic character and dynamic, contemporary cultural mosaic.” -30- References: Frank Klees, MPP Newmarket-Aurora PC Transportation Critic 416 509 8999
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Frankly Speaking March addition "Prayer important part of Ontario's past, present, future" Petition to the Parliament of Ontario to include the Lord's Prayer as part of its daily Proceedings Please feel free to print off the petition by clicking here [ petition] and mail it to the address indicated. It reads: Whereas Premier Dalton McGuinty has called on the Ontario Legislature to consider removing the Lord’s Prayer from its daily Proceedings;
Whereas the Lord’s Prayer has been an integral part of our parliamentary heritage that was first established in 1793 under Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe;
Whereas the Lord’s Prayer is today a significant part of the religious heritage of millions of Ontarians of culturally diverse backgrounds;
Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to continue its long-standing practice of using the Lord’s Prayer as part of its daily Proceedings: I will read your petitions in the legislature. Send them to me as soon as possible and continue to gather names on new pages. The legislature will only accept petitions with original signatures so don't fax or email Church group fights to save Lord's Prayer Brampton Guardian March 30, 2008 over 2000 signatures York politicians, religious leaders differ on Lord's Prayer at Queen's Park article by |
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© 2008 Frank Klees, M.P.P. All Rights Reserved |
