Mr. Speaker, I had begun to answer the question and question period arrived so my answers were a little elliptic. I am happy to add to them.
The situation in Canada is different from that in the United States. In particular our charter of rights is different from the American bill of rights. I think we can resume the position as follows.
There is no constitutional separation of church and state in Canada. Therefore it is perfectly open for any province within the constitutional provisions to make provision for financial aid to church schools or other schools. That is a political choice of the province. There is no constitutional barrier to that.
As to the issue of parents' rights, it is within the rights of parents to ask for religious exercises in schools. That was again a decision for the province and the provincial instrumentalities which include municipal bodies and eventually school boards. The matter essentially is that there are no constitutional fetters. It is a matter of the political choice of the electors and their elected representatives.
I hope that answers the question the hon. member posed. It is an important question. I realize in this general debate on the Newfoundland amendment, and I suspect the Quebec amendment to come, there are matters of this sort that are a concern to citizens of the country. I have received representations and questions on them myself.
For that reason I thank the hon. member for aiding the cause of enlightenment.