BCTF will not attend "polygamy summit"
 
By the B.C. Teacher' Federation
Canada NewsWire Group
 
Attention News Editors:

VANCOUVER, April 18 /CNW/ - Contrary to reports in the media and on the Internet, the B.C. Teachers' Federation never received an invitation to the "polygamy summit" taking place in Creston tomorrow. Winston Blackmore, the unrepentant polygamist and former "Bishop of Bountiful," has said that the BCTF was invited to make a presentation. The statement is untrue.

"We have not received an invitation from Mr. Blackmore or anyone else in Bountiful," said Jinny Sims, president of the BCTF. "If we had, we would have declined."

"Teachers have no desire to be part of this so-called summit," Sims said. "It seems to be more of a public relations exercise aimed at legitimizing or even celebrating polygamy, which is illegal in Canada. Our key concern is for the children of Bountiful and their education. Neither would be served by our involvement."

In addition, Sims said, the BCTF is constrained from commenting on the situation in Bountiful because two representatives of the Mormon Hills School have initiated legal action against the Federation and two of its staff members.

Last November, the BCTF issued a news release and petition calling on the government to investigate persistent allegations of sexual abuse, trafficking of girls, and expulsion of boys from the community. They also called for a thorough inspection of the polygamists' two parochial schools and for public funding to be discontinued if the schools did not meet requirements under the Independent Schools Act. To date, more than 1,500 teachers have signed the petition.

In response, last January Duane and Suzie Palmer, respectively the superintendent and a teacher at Mormon Hills School, filed a human rights complaint alleging that the BCTF is discriminating against them on the basis of religion, marital status, and family status. The BCTF denies the claim.

For further information: contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at (604) 871-1881 (office) or (604) 250-6775 (cell)
 
newswire.ca
Originally published April 18, 2005
 
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