Ontario reviews prayer in legislature

TORONTO, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The premier of Ontario has ordered a review of policy on reciting the Lord's Prayer before each legislative session in Toronto, Canadian media reported.

In a letter to the speaker and other party leaders, Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty said it was time to "look at how we can move beyond the Lord's Prayer to a broader approach that is more inclusive in nature," the Toronto Star reported.

"The members of the Ontario Legislature reflect the diversity of Ontario -- be it Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or agnostic. It is time for our practices to do the same."

In the Toronto area, more than half the population was born in another country, while the 2006 census shows one-third of Ontario's population was born outside Canada, the Canwest news Service reported.

Conservative opposition leader John Tory said his party would engage in talks but said it was "unacceptable to us" if the goal was to replace the prayer altogether.

"Part of respecting the tradition of the legislature is keeping the Lord's Prayer," Tory said. "That doesn't mean we wouldn't be open to other prayers being added."