Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to stand before the House today to share with members and all Canadians the courage in the actions of Professor Paul Grayson of York University.
In September of last year, Professor Grayson received an unusual request from one of his students. The student asked to be exempt from in-person group work on religious grounds, because it would involve having to be in the presence of women. Professor Grayson consulted with the dean of the faculty and with the campus' Centre for Human Rights. Both asked him to accommodate the student's request. Professor Grayson refused to follow their instructions. Courageously, he refused to accommodate sexism at York University.
Women's equality is not negotiable. It is important to clearly state that the equality of women is a fundamental Canadian value. Women have made tremendous strides in all areas of society. It is unacceptable to ignore, stifle, or reverse this progress. I would like to thank Professor Grayson for standing up to his superiors on this important issue and for standing up for women's rights and equality.