B.C. government reverses approval of Christian law school
British Columbia's Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk has rescinded his approval of a proposed law school at Trinity Western University.
Although the Christian university's law school, based in Langley, was accredited in B.C. on April 11, 74 percent of Law Society of B.C. members voted in October to reverse the decision.
Virk issued the following statement on December 11:
“Based on the current situation, I have decided to revoke my approval of the proposed law school at Trinity Western University. This means the university cannot enroll any students in its proposed program. The current uncertainty over the status of the regulatory body approval means prospective graduates may not be able to be called to the bar, or practise law, in British Columbia."
B.C. joins Ontario and Nova Scotia law societies in denying accreditation for the school. New Brunswick approved accreditation for the school but law society members have also voted to reverse the decision.
Law societies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon have all granted the university accreditation.
The law school sparked national controversy due to the school's covenant that prohibits any intimacy unless it is within an opposite-sex marriage. Outcry arose due to concerns about discrimination against same-sex relationships.
TWU president Bob Kuhn expressed disappointment about Virk's decision in a news release.
“It is difficult to conceive of a justifiable basis for the Minister to have revoked his approval of the school of law program," Kuhn stated. “We believe in diversity and the rights of all Canadians to their beliefs and values.”
Kuhn said that the university is now considering all options.
“There are such important rights and freedoms at stake that we may have no choice but to seek protection of them in court,” he said.
The university is appealing the Ontario and Nova Scotia decisions in court.
“Once the legal issues are resolved, TWU will have the option to renew its request for consent," Virk stated.
Comments
4 Comments
So Progressive!
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:50am
You can't start a Law School in BC without approval from the Government! I sure am glad that you don't need approval from the government to engage in sex, only to do something silly like start a law school! After all, Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of sexual orientation, right?
@So Progressive
Dec 12, 2014 at 12:43pm
Right!
Damn right.
Fairness
Dec 12, 2014 at 12:45pm
This a real question:
Do Muslim institutions (eg mosques) allow homosexuals to join them? These type of institutions provide unique services to their members, so are they allowed to deny these services based on sexual orientation?
Amazed!
Dec 15, 2014 at 3:26pm
Looks like many people think it is strange to have freedom to open a law school. Law is just a word---so teaching people words, you should need Government permission to do that, but not to have sex, which is capable of spreading contagious disease, etc. etc. I guess you folks have some theory of "pure vocabulary" or something? I think most eugenics-states have that sort of idea---is it better to try to use the Government to maintain a "pure law" than a "pure race"? Freedom means everyone is free to open law schools; if you cannot open a law school, you are a slave to whoever is stopping you.