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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-10-03, Page 6Page 6 The Huron Expositor • October 3, 2007 Opinion MMP negative for rural Canada, says Steckle From Page 5 that such statements do not reflect my personal opinion on the matter. To be perfectly clear, it is my intention to vote against the pro- posal for a new system of propor- tional representation because I believe that MMP will have a sub- stantial and negative impact on rural Canada. In countless other jurisdictions around the world, jurisdictions that have enacted a proportional system, political instability has often followed. Moreover, given that MMP is a system that would give political power based upon population, it would logically follow that the larger the population, the greater the influence. In Canada, that means that, under the proposed MMP system of government, rural Canada would be last in line for help from govern- ments; something that I would oppose vigorously. Our current system is not perfect but, let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. MMP is an idea that has been discussed for years - and rejected for years. While I had not intended to take a public stand on the matter, given that it is before the people in a ref- erendum, I cannot permit false and misleading information to be circu- lated in my name. Again, it is my intention to vote against the proposed MMP system of electing our provincial represen- tatives and any statements to the contrary are false. Sincerely, Paul Steckle, MP Huron -Bruce Liberals are fear mongering when arguing that funding faith -based schools will hurt public system To the Editor, I listened with interest to the election debate recently. I was encouraged to hear John Tory, leader of the Conservative Party, arguing in support of fair funding for faith -based indepen- dent schools in Ontario. At the same time I was disheartened to hear Premier McGuinty using the same tired argu- ments against fair funding that he used in the last election. I am disappointed that the Ontario Liberals are again stooping to fear mongering in regards to this issue. As they so successfully did in the last election, the Ontario Liberals are hoping to cash in on the average voter's fear that funding faith -based independent schools will hurt the cash-strapped public school system. Premier McGuinty does his best to build on this fear through Liberal election ads which argue that the finances for faith based indepen- dent schools will be "taken out of the public school budget." Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Ontario PC's have promised an extra $2.8 bil- lion in funding for public schools. This is in addition to their promise of funding for all faith - based schools under the umbrella of public edu- cation. Secondly, parents who send their children to faith -based independent schools are offended at Premier McGuinty's suggestion that funding faith -based independent schools will be divisive and will cause social unrest. Graduates of faith -based schools, like those in public schools, become productive members of society and good citizens. Life in Alberta, B.C. and in several other Canadian provinces is peaceful and these governments have financed school choice for years. Premier McGuinty received a Catholic educa- tion and chose the same for his own children. In light of the fact that the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops is on record to support other groups seeking full funding for faith -based edu- cation, Premier McGuinty's defense of funding Catholic schools but no other faith -based schools, is indefensible. Premier McGuinty, you are on record in 1998 as acknowledging there is a `fairness issue' when it comes to the current practice of funding Catholic schools only in Ontario. You have also said that you are not "ideologi cally opposed to the idea of extending funding to other faith -based schools." I ask you to quit making incendiary com- ments about such schools and to return to your pre -premier statements. Clarence Bos Clinton, Ont. Huron 4-H thanks dinner supporters To the Editor, The Huron County 4-H Leader's Association would like to send out a huge thank you to everyone that supported the Roast Beef Fundraising Dinner held on Aug. 12 at the Seaforth Agriplex. The dinner was a success with approximately 200 attendees. The silent auction was a little smaller than last year but still raised a fair amount of funds. The beef was cooked to perfection and 4-H mem- bers and leaders assisted with the meal See DINNER, Page 7 • I Own a Piece of My Insurance Company. As a policyholder of one of Ontario's 45 mutual insurance companies, you not only become a shareholder—you can help direct the company as an elected member of its governing board. 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