The rejection of John Tory's questionable private school scheme continues across Ontario. TORONTO, Sept. 19 /CNW/ - No faith in Tory's plan "If John Tory has his way, he'll be sending our province's school system down a potentially dangerous trail... And if we're going to keep religion in our classrooms, rather than investing taxpayers dollars to further separate students based on religion, instead, invest the money into educating our students about religious tolerance and understanding other faiths." - Timmins Daily Press, July 28, 2007 Social inclusion is better than fragmentation "Social inclusion rather than fragmentation must guide our long-term view of change... The provincial Conservatives' plan to fund faith-based schools is a bad idea that takes us down a path that is contrary to a better society... "It is vastly better to use our resources for the benefit of the 2 million students in the public school system than to introduce funding for the 50,000 students in private schools. Parents who wish to send their children to private schools have every right to do so, but not at public expense." - Michael Fullan, Toronto Star, Sep. 7, 2007 Newcomers' integration: under threat "Mr. Tory justifies public funding for non-secular, faith-based schools as an issue of fairness. After all, the Roman Catholics have it. This is disingenuous, at best, and Mr. Tory should know better. His proposal, aimed at gaining incremental votes in marginal ridings, is an exercise in cynicism. It is not favourable for the progressive integration of our society." - Tom Kierans, Chair of council and vice-president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada, Globe and Mail, Sep. 12, 2007 Ask the Religion Experts "...attempting to level the playing field by funding the schools of all religions would in the long run be a step backward that may lead to a society segregated along religious lines. "Cuts by the previous government harmed the public school system on just about every quality indicator imaginable. Wouldn't it be better therefore to use the promised (millions) to restore the multicultural public system rather than spend it on funding exclusive faith based schools? Of course parents have a right to bring up their children exclusively, but not at public expense!" - Dr. Radhika Sekar, PhD, Religious Studies, Ottawa Citizen, Sep. 15, 2007
For further information:
For further information: contact: Ben Chin, (416) 961-3800 ext. 412, ben_chin@ontarioliberal.ca
Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Elections 2011
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