The Editor,
Re: "Trustee draws fire for talk show slot," News, July 10.
I have been an elected school trustee for one and a half years, in addition to being active in the community, a proud father of two daughters and work a fulltime job as a senior software development manager.
I have also been a current affairs commentator for close to a decade before being elected in 2011.
I provide printed, online and on-air media with commentary on issues facing ordinary Canadians every day. It is therefore understandable that I am still being invited as a guest at times to share my opinions on a wide range of topics that may or may not be related to educational issues.
I always made it very clear to the audience that I was commenting as an individual and a concerned citizen.
When on those occasions that I was interviewed as a Richmond Board of Education Trustee, I always made sure that I would be introduced as a trustee; and that I spoke only for myself and with my personal opinion.
It has not occurred before that I was accused on the basis that I had misrepresented myself as speaking on behalf of the Board of Education.
Through my participation in the past dozen of years, I have been able to bring closer attention and raise the level of interest on Canadian issues.
I plan to continue this mutually edifying community service as long as there are topics that are relevant to Canadians. I do not agree to the implication that I have surrendered such rights as an elected official and will continue to speak my mind in soliciting meaningful dialogue and constructive discussion.
The one-hour phone-in talk show in question was about the highly expected federal cabinet shuffle this summer; general speculation, its mechanics and politics, and not on any specific policy as implied by the spokesperson of the David Suzuki Foundation, Ms. Winnie Hwo.
From listening to the recording of the program, it is confirmed that the discussion on the speculated reshuffling of Peter Kent, Minister of Environment, and environmental issues constituted less than one-tenth of the topics covered.
It was not true, and impossible, that I had carried on for four minutes about how the environmental movement was not viable.
Freedom of opinion and expression is a right that all Canadians espouse to and treasure.
As a school trustee in Richmond, my right to express my views should not and must not be restricted by any "official line."
We are living in a pluralistic country where we do not sanction to one and only one voice.
I fully support the environmental stewardship policy of the school district and have persistently integrated it into my daily living no less than other citizens.
But does it mean I cannot have my own views on certain issues and express them freely for public discussion if I do not sing from certain individuals' song sheets?
Furthermore, Ms. Hwo has confused education with indoctrination.
Education is about developing the critical mind of the students and this is achieved by allowing different views and opinions to flourish.
Any views that might seem to challenge the orthodox doctrine should be encouraged, not suppressed.
What are we actually modeling to our children if I am criticized for simply expressing an opinion not necessarily espoused to by the David Suzuki Foundation? It is hard to believe that Ms. Hwo, who was the chief of the news department of an ethnic TV station and a radio phone-in program host, has suggested that I should be kept in check if my opinion is not approved by her.
I sincerely hope that is a case of misunderstanding, or that she's expressing her own opinion and does not reflect that of her employer's.
Kenny Chiu Richmond school trustee
