DATE 27th August, 2021

Good Spirit School Division
5B Schrader Drive, Box 5060
Yorkton, SK
S3N 3Z4

Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools
45A Palliser Way
Yorkton, SK
S3N 4C5

To Whom This May Concern,

As concerned individuals, we believe that each member of the school community – whether a parent, student, teacher, or member of staff –  should have the ability to  preserve and exercise their Rights and Freedoms as Canadians. In a free and democratic country, our Freedom of Choice is afforded us by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We would like to express our great concern over the apparent infringement upon these Rights and Freedoms at our schools.

While the Government of Saskatchewan has made the decision to keep our province  open and remove the Provincial Health restrictions, we believe that the  measures that our local school board is seeking to impose is an infringement on our basic Rights and Freedoms according to sections  2 (a),( b), and 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Our belief is that our schools should reflect the Provincial measures.

Moose Jaw School Board has taken the a stand to respect the Rights and Freedoms of parents, students, teachers, and staff.  We believe that all individuals should have the freedom to decide which health measures they choose to implement for themselves and their families.  It is concerning that our local health officials would choose to act against the Chief Medical Officer’s Health recommendation for our Province.  While our children can attend a football game at Rider Stadium with 33,000 unmasked individuals; under the Board’s current measures,  they cannot sit unmasked in a classroom with 30 other students.  When outside of a school setting, our children have the ability to be unmasked and interact with the same peers. 

We are requesting an official in person meeting with the Good Spirit & Christ the Teacher School Boards. We desire to have it on record that, as parents and concerned citizens, we stand against the Back to School Plan and the health measures you are attempting to implement.  We ask that this in person meeting is properly communicated to parents so that they are made aware of the decisions that are being made for their children. 

 While we understand the continuity of the school divisions,  we disagree with the mandate. We fundamentally believe that parents should be entrusted with the decision as to whether or not our children should be masked at school.

Thank you for your consideration of this letter. We look forward to your positive reply.

Sincerely,

The undersigned citizens, parents, and guardians