Tory Promises Free Vote On Funding For Faith-Based Schools
Posted October 1, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Was it a flip flop, a softening of his position or an outright reversal of fortune? All those descriptions and more are being used to describe what John Tory did on Monday. With less than two weeks left before Ontarians head to the polls on October 10th, the Conservative leader has officially backed away from the concept of funding all faith-based schools. He’s offering a free vote in the Legislature instead – a proposal certain to doom the idea for good.
The change came after some of Tory’s own candidates and voters at the door continually told the leader his program was keeping them from supporting him. And with polls showing he badly trails Liberal incumbent Kathleen Wynne in his own riding of Don Valley West, Tory is desperately looking for a way to keep his political boat afloat.
“We’re doing what we think is right,” he explains after making the sudden announcement. “MPPs will be allowed a free vote so they can vote their conscience and represent the wishes of their constituents.”
Tory has been running on a slogan that ‘leadership matters’ and has constantly accused Liberal chief Dalton McGuinty of breaking his promises. Hasn’t he just done the same thing? “I believe that the public are looking for leadership who listens,” he responds. He claims he’s still committed to the idea out of fairness but because of the divisions it’s engendered, he wants to give everyone a fair say.
Allies like the Canadian Jewish Congress, which was solidly behind the plan, isn’t pulling its support. “I think what he has done is he has seen the need to open up this debate,” offers Bernie Farber.
The question now that’s on everyone’s mind – is it too little, too late? “It won’t change my view on this election,” assures a retiree voter named Jim. Was he ever planning to vote for the Conservative chief? “No,” he answers swiftly.
But Danielly, a post graduate student, confesses the change just might get her thinking of altering her vote. “Yeah, maybe,” she concedes. “A little bit.”
Either way, Tory insists he’s not sorry he proposed the idea in the first place. “”They have expressed strong concerns and I have heard them,” he concludes. “You can never regret advancing the cause of inclusion and fairness.”
Pundits say it will take a few days to see if the ploy works. Tory is expected to try to shift the focus away from the issue and onto other pressing matters, like health care and the economy. The Liberals, for their part, will try and keep your eyes on the change – and the controversy that they hope simply won’t go away.
