(Orillia) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop has been asked by John Tory, Leader of the PC Party, to sit as a member of the Prayer Committee to help determine the fate of the Lord’s Prayer in the Ontario Legislature. The all party committee has been created in response to the public outcry from Premier McGuinty’s announcement last month of the removal of the Lord’s Prayer.

Mr. Dunlop will continue to fight and defend parliamentary tradition to have the Lord’s Prayer read in the Ontario legislature. At the same time Mr. Dunlop would like to make it clear he is open to discussing other prayers being added in the proceedings but removing the Lord’s Prayer is not an option.

“It is an honour that I have been chosen to represent not only the Official Opposition but also the many citizens who would like to retain this longstanding tradition,” said Dunlop. “I look forward to participating in discussions with the committee while being vocal in attempting to preserve the Lord’s Prayer.”

The All Party Prayer Committee consists of Ms. Cheri DiNovo, from the New Democratic Party, Mr. Bal Balkissoon, from the Liberal Party, Mr. Garfield Dunlop, from the Ontario Progressive Party, as well as the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature Mr. Steve Peters, MPP.

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Contact:
Garfield Dunlop
705 - 327-4500 (cell)