PC gets bitchslapped

Leslie

Communistrator
Staff member
OTTAWA – The Governor General has given her support to a Grade 8 student thrown out of Rideau Hall during a class tour Wednesday, for asking a question deemed inappropriate by the tour guide.



Jeremy Patfield and his classmates from Whitby were on a field trip to Ottawa this week when they stopped by the Governor General's official residence for a tour.



When Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson entered the room on her way to an engagement, Patfield says he turned to his classmate and asked, "Is that the lady that spends the money on the Queen when she comes?"



The tour guide stopped the tour and Patfield's class was asked to leave. As a result, Patfield was admonished by the teacher and told he was under "house arrest." He was then handed a three-day suspension from school.



The Governor General's press secretary said that, unfortunately, the tour guide showed bad judgment in this case.



Hearing the story on CBC Radio Thursday morning, Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson called to give her view of the events.



She said she didn't hear Patfield's question, and if she had, she would have been happy to answer it.



"There's nothing wrong with the question. Everybody has a right to ask that question. If I had heard that question, I would have answered it immediately, because it shows an interest in how the Governor General's office works.



"I do not interpret it as impertinent. I think that one should learn young that freedom of speech and expression in this country is one of the most important freedoms that we have."



As for the suspension, she said, "I don't want to get involved in what schools do. That's something that each principal, each school board has to be in charge of."



Clarkson has invited Patfield and his father back to Rideau Hall.



"I've talked to the staff about this incident … We will make sure it doesn't happen again," said Clarkson.



Rideau Hall also says there will be an apology from the tour guide's supervisor.



The school cancelled Patfield's suspension Thursday morning.
Free speech still mostly reigns. :canada:

CBC
 
It wasn't even an insulting question, just a smartass remark.

I know I would have asked to see the rug. Get me banned from all of Ottawa likely lol.
 
Back
Top