John Tory Tries To Clarify “Creationism Vs. Evolution” Controversy
Posted September 6, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Don’t make this a one-issue election.
That was the plea from Conservative leader John Tory Thursday as the PC boss found himself awash again in a sea in controversy over his faith-based school funding platform. The plan was already contentious enough, when Tory openly mused on Wednesday about the possibility of creationism being taught alongside evolution in religious schools.
Since then, he’s been assailed by those who oppose his idea and those who support it. “In the course of an election campaign, you have to have an open, honest discussion about these kinds of issues and you always have to choose your language with precision,” Tory admits about his statement. “I understand that this issue is controversial … But it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t discuss it or try to sweep it under the carpet.”
He attempted to bridge the gap by clarifying that the creation theory would only be allowed to be taught during a true religious lesson and not in a science class. But it’s clear what pundits believe will be the most controversial part of the election has left the Conservative leader between two different worlds that don’t seem likely to ever meet.
Dalton McGuinty is taking a different road on the issue. “Creationism is not a science,” he reminds. “Evolution is a science. When we’re teaching science in our public schools, we should be teaching evolution.”
But Tory is pleading with voters not to judge his campaign solely on a single plan. “It’s a part of our platform,” he outlines. “It represents a quarter of a page in a 52-page document … The education issue is one issue.”
Some educators believe Tory is learning a hard lesson about introducing religion into an already volatile campaign. “The issue of funding religious schools is contentious enough without mentioning creationism,” comments David Docherty of Wilfrid Laurier University. If Tory was trying to differentiate himself from McGuinty, “he’s chosen an unwise way to do it,” he adds. “Mr. Tory is a very experienced politician. He learned at the feet of the master, (former Ontario premier) Bill Davis. But this is something Bill Davis never would have done.”
The irony of that statement isn’t lost on anyone. It was Davis who approved funding for Catholic schools in the 1980s.
