Values and Opinions Department

New immigrants to Canada are being told many helpful things - thanks to our new official study guide.

Of course, they are not being told that spitting in public is a) disgusting and b) a criminal offense. Or if they are, who's listening?

In addition, the Globe has learned that a number of references to certain Canadian Rights enshrined by law have been deliberately omitted from the guide.

For example:

"Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969 and more recently, civil marriage rights to same-sex couples was legalized nationwide in 2005," the earliest draft of the guide says under the section Towards a Modern Canada.

And in the section on citizenship rights, the early draft said: "Equality Rights - Canadians are protected against discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or age."

Neither sentence survived the minister's red marker.

The minister is Citizenship & Immigration Minister Jason Kenney who was advised by staff to include such statements.

But Kenny has his own agenda.

For which, no doubt, many will applaud him.

Not I.