Supreme challenge
on track

MAXWELL RYAN
Special to CW
– Langley, BC –

Trinity Western University is prepared to appear before The Supreme Court of Canada to assert its right to train certified teachers for B.C.’s public school system.

The evangelical university is squaring off against the British Columbia College of Teachers, which four years ago refused to certify TWU’s teacher training program, insisting that the Christian lifestyle required of TWU students will lead them to discriminate against homosexuals in the classroom.

“The BCCT has attempted to justify its decision on the basis of stereotypical presumptions concerning TWU, the members of its community and its graduates,” states the university in its legal argument.

Eight groups with an interest in this case have been granted intervenor status: the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada; the Christian Legal Fellowship; the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Canada; the B.C. Civil Liberties Association; the Canadian Civil Liberties Association; Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere; the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation.

Each group prepared legal arguments and submitted them to the Supreme Court last month. The actual hearing is expected in the fall of this year or early 2001.

TWU initiated legal action in 1996 after the BCCT refused to certify the school’s teacher education program. The case was initially heard in the B.C. Supreme Court in 1996 and in the B.C. Court of Appeal two years later. Even though in both instances the BCCT lost their case, they appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada in January last year.

“We were hopeful that the college of teachers would accept the rulings of the two lower courts to accredit our teacher education program, and that everyone involved could begin to use their time more productively,” says TWU executive vice-president Guy Saffold.

“The teachers of the province have had to support the extra burden of the BCCT’s legal bills, and the university has used precious resources we would prefer to devote to training of teachers.”

The BCCT has attempted to justify its decision on the basis of stereotypical presumptions concerning TWU, the members of its community and its graduates