Julian Hanlon, education director of the Ottawa Catholic School Board at the Ottawa/Gatineau We Day.

I’ve spoken often about the political indoctrination that happens in our schools. See here, here and here are just a few examples.

Well today in Ottawa thousands of kids took part in We Day, an initiative that while not exactly partisan does lean on the progressive side. Few would deny that.

It is also put on by a group that supports Planned Parenthood and Stephen Lewis’ group, which like Planned Parenthood supports abortion. Why does this matter?

According to the Ottawa Catholic School Board they sent 700 students to the event. They could make an argument that this is not an exclusively abortion related event. Fair enough.

But here is my question. Will they send 700 students to the March for Life on May 9th?

I doubt it.

Some students do show up but the March for Life does not receive anywhere near the level of support that We Day does, nor does it get the official endorsement of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. In fact it was only a few years ago that they had a ban on schools organizing trips to the march. The board said it was too much of a political event. Only the intervention of Archbishop Prendergast changed their collectivist mind.

There is no doubt that We Day is a political event. Abortion support aside, there could be an argument for some aspects of what they talk about being in line with Catholic values. So why the double standard?

Will I see Education Director Julian Hanlon and other top administrators leading 700 students with the same gusto onto Parliament Hill in two weeks?

We Day describes itself as “a movement of young people leading local and global change.” Calling for our culture to respect life would fit that description.

So how about it Mr. Hanlon?