Tuesday, September 18, 2007

"Now is not the time to do it"

No, I guess not.

McGuinty, stressing he looks “at the world in terms of four-year mandates,” ruled out an end to Catholic funding.

May we have that in writing, please?



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Update: More here from Clive - The Tip of a Hidden Agenda?

Interesting items from the Star here as well. Read Bernie Farber's account of how Dalton McGuinty's position a few years ago was very similar to John Tory's now.

McGuinty's education adviser Michael Fullan has an article that follows Farber's, with related letters here.

And remember, public funding of Catholic schools beyond Grade 8 is discretionary. Listen to audio here.


19 comments:

Omar said...

The question shouldn't be whether other religions receive education funding, it should be why the Catholic religion still does.

Omar said...

I'm looking to get picked up by a television show. ;-)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

lol! Welcome, Star Political Pundit of the CBC! We are so honoured to be graced by your presence.

it should be why the Catholic religion still does.

Exactly. Lowell Green addresses that very question here.

Anonymous said...

So, I'm wondering if now isn't the time to pull the plug on Catholic funding, when would be the right time exactly?

No government in their right mind would want to go there. Wouldn't that be political suicide?

Anonymous said...

The real crime in this diversion of discussion on religious funding of schools, is that life goes on for all students, parents and school boards.

Most boards can't afford the sweet deal made by Gerard Kennedy for the teachers, are still grossly underfunded, and many are entering into a new round of accommodation reviews with potential school closures in the wind, and no one is focussing that spot light on what's going on in the classroom.

The EQAO scores have flat-lined, elementary teachers want parody with their secondary counterparts,
support staffing contracts need renegotiating, and the cost of post-secondaries keep going up,up,up.

Do we thank the education premier by rewarding him with another 4 years? No way!

Anonymous said...

Funding ruined Catholic schools, they're as bad as the public now. So perhaps it shouldn't be overlooked as a method to level the playing field for all students.

Anonymous said...

If the Catholic schools are just as bad as the public ones how come they're scoring better on EQAO test scores?

They must be doing something right.

Möbius said...

Tory might still be able to pull this one out of the ashes if he proposes a referendum on the FB-school funding issue, following the election. That would effectively kill it.

Someone in the National Post suggested he can't withdraw the idea without losing credibility (not so sure, when you're polling 71% against), and that would get this issue out of the way.

I'm really sick about this, because the PC's finally have a great candidate running in my riding, and I cannot support this issue.

I'm sure I'll admire his principles when he loses to McGuinty, and quits as PC leader within a year. Yeah, that's it....

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Don't forget that there are conditions to getting the funding.

Möbius said...

Joanne,

I don't care what conditions there are, to be honest. This policy must go, in order to win this election.

7 out of 10 people in the province don't want it (probably more, if you consider natural conservative voters). I suspect out of the remaining 3 of 10, at least 1 or 2 have no idea what it means.

It's a completely anti-conservative approach. How many more negatives do we need? This issue will turn a probable PC minority into a Liberal minority or majority. Tory, and his principles will move on to his next dalliance.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

This policy must go, in order to win this election.

Moebius, you're right. He likely won't win the election because of this policy. Tben the PC's will need to choose a new leader.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

So you'll vote Green, right?

How about those five or six extra holidays? I bet that fits into your fiscally responsible framework really well!

Möbius said...

Green won't be running any government anytime soon, so no worries there.

I don't use all of the the holidays they already give me.

Five more years of McGuinty "leadership" is far worse punishment.

Möbius said...

In fact, the Greens and NDP can pretty well promise anything they want, since they won't have to deliver!

Gold-plated solar-powered toilets for all! Union-made!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Agreed. That's why I'm planning to vote strategically.

Joanne (True Blue) said...


Gold-plated solar-powered toilets for all! Union-made!


lol!

Möbius said...

If you're in a close riding, I wouldn't blame you for voting PC. I'm not, so I have the luxury of protest voting.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Moebius, I also happen to like the PC candidate. That also makes it easier.

Möbius said...

We have one of the best PC candidates we've had in years, in a normally weak conservative riding.

Wish I could lend him a vote. I may yet still, because I have a lot of respect for him.