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Vancouver, B.C.
Canada’s Supreme Court rules in favour of teacher certification at Christian university


The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld a lower court’s decision ordering approval of Trinity Western University’s teacher certification program.

Canada’s highest court ruled 8-1 on May 17 that it was wrong for the B.C. College of Teachers to deny accreditation for the University’s teaching program because of alleged discriminatory practices.

“We’re enormously pleased,” said Guy Saffold, executive vice-president of Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., after the ruling that brings to close a six-year ordeal. “Everybody is pleased that the Court ruled so clearly in favour of our case.”

The BCCT denied TWU’s application for its teaching program, citing that TWU’s community standards requiring students to refrain from extramarital sex, including homosexual behaviour, was discriminatory. The BCCT argued that TWU graduates could discriminate against homosexual students in public school classrooms.

In its decision, the Supreme Court stated that “ . . . there is nothing in TWU’s community standards that indicates that graduates of TWU will not treat homosexuals fairly and respectfully. Indeed, the evidence to date is that graduates from the joint TWU-[Simon Fraser University] teacher education program have become competent public school teachers, and there is no evidence before the Court of discriminatory conduct by any graduate . . . ”

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada says the ruling in favour of TWU is a significant victory for religious freedom. “This is the most important decision on religious freedom in years,” said Janet Epp Buckingham, general legal counsel for the EFC. “We appreciate that the Supreme Court has indicated that no right is privileged over any other and that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms must be read as a whole.”

In 1995, TWU applied to the BCCT for approval of its teaching program. The approval was necessary in order to certify students in TWU’s education degree program as teachers; currently, students are required to take a fifth year at Simon Fraser University. However, the BCCT denied the application, ignoring the recommendation of its own committee. In 1997, the B.C. Supreme Court ordered the BCCT to approve TWU’s teacher education program, saying there is no evidence of intolerance among TWU-trained teachers. The BCCT then appealed to the B.C. Court of Appeal. On December 30, 1998, the Court of Appeal ruled 2-1 in favour of TWU, ordering the BCCT to approve TWU’s program. In January 1999, the BCCT announced it would appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, and on November 9, 2000 oral arguments were heard before the Supreme Court. The University plans to move ahead now with the implementation of the teacher certification year to begin in the fall of 2002.

 – pjw, adapted from news files

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Last modified July 10, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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