Statement to the BrantNews by Peter Jones Tuesday July 27 2010

Now that I have received a letter from the Brantford City Clerk’s office requesting that I prove my religious affiliation, the first phase of my demonstration is complete.

I have shown that, as a direct result of the existence of the Separate school system, there are laws in place in Ontario, which can compel a government official to demand that a citizen provide proof of what religion they practice, under threat of criminal prosecution.

As difficult as it may be to believe, separate schools in Ontario are exempt from the Ontario Human Rights Code regarding religious discrimination. Municipal governments are not. Ontario is the only western democracy which disregards its citizen’s fundamental right to freedom from religious discrimination. A new distinction may soon be thrust upon Brantford by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.

I will not be responding to the clerk’s request. From the documents I have received, there is a strong implication that my documentation would be forwarded to and scrutinize by, officials of the Roman Catholic Church. I will not voluntarily allow my legal status to be determined by this grotesquely corrupt institution. I would much prefer that the courts rule on my eligibility should my nomination be rejected.

However, I have discovered something that renders my religious status moot. I am not an eligible Catholic Trustee candidate because the designation on my property tax assessment form is EP (English Public) not ES (English Separate). It’s difficult to believe that this fundamental oversight was made by the City, MPAC, the separate school board and a high priced Toronto lawyer. It is ultimately my responsibility to make sure that I meet eligibility requirements. As I am not one to break the law by knowingly making a false declaration, I have no choice but to withdraw as a candidate and hope that no civil or criminal penalties are visited upon me.

I have been presented with legal arguments and principles which called in question my Catholic status. I now have the acceptable definition of Catholic from the OCSTA, the BHNCDSB and the Roman Catholic church. This definition must now apply to all declared Catholic voters and rate payers. “The definition of Roman Catholic relies on an ecclesiastical status, not self-identification and that status must be determined with reference to Catholic rules”. I now have everything I need to apply to the Superior Court of Justice requesting that it determine if this election is valid on that basis. Now may be a good time for all self-identified Catholics to review their status.

This is the last you will hear from me until after the election. With a provincial election on the horizon, I’ll be taking my show on the road. Hopefully a few provincial politicians will be interested in what’s been going on in Brantford lately.

Yet another double standard when you put the word "God" in there.