OTTAWA- New Democrats are calling on Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney to immediately apologize for censoring references to gay history and gay rights from the latest edition of the Citizenship study guide.

"Instead of proudly showcasing what makes us Canadian, Harper's Conservatives have shamefully chosen to delete equal rights, including marriage, for gays and lesbians from our history," says Olivia Chow (Trinity–Spadina) the New Democratic Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. "Minister Kenney should immediately apologise and restore to the guide the part of Canadian history that celebrates our spirit of tolerance and freedom."

New reports revealed today that Minister Kenney specifically request the reference to gay rights be removed when the new guide was produced last year.

“This is an unbelievable insult for gay and lesbian Canadians," said New Democrat Bill Siksay (Burnaby Douglas), Critic for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Transsexual Issues. “We have fought hard to have our rights recognized, and we will not be censored out of our country's history.”

"The positive position of gays and lesbians in Canadian society is one of the distinguishing features of Canada and newcomers should have an appreciation of that fact. Minister Kenney may have personal problems with that, but he can't turn back the clock by editing us out," concluded Siksay