By CBC.NEWS
Added: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC

Thanks to Shane Ervin for the link.
Original link

Publicly funded daycare operators in Quebec are welcoming the province’s announcement it will ban religious instruction in government-subsidized daycares.

Quebec Family Minister Tony Tomassi made the announcement Wednesday, one day after saying he would not prevent daycare centres from teaching religious beliefs.

"The mission of [early-childhood education centres] is really to help families integrate into Quebec culture," said Annie Turcot, spokesperson for a coalition of publicly funded daycares on the island of Montreal.

On Tuesday, Tomassi had said that Quebec’s public daycares reflect family values and religious instruction was normal in the province.

But on Wednesday, he said the practice will be prohibited.

He said an internal audit has revealed about 20 daycares, which receive public funding, include religious instruction in their educational programs.

"So we have to verify it," said Tomassi. Once that's done, he said he will meet with the daycare administrators, and work with them to eliminate religion from their program.
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TAGGED: CHILDREN, RELIGION