Candidates' debate focuses on religious school funding

Last Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2007 | 10:44 PM ET

The Canadian Press

A controversial proposal to extend funding to private faith-based schools sparked an emotional firestorm at a raucous all-candidates meeting Sunday, where Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory sparred with his Liberal riding rival, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

About 400 people jammed a sweltering high school auditorium in the key Toronto riding of Don Valley West, including dozens of Tory and Wynne stalwarts who took turns shouting each other down with chants of "Tory! Tory!" and "Win with Wynne!" before the two-hour debate even got underway.

But it was a question about the funding of religious schools that touched a nerve, prompting both heckling and thunderous applause as the candidates laid out their plans. Ontarians head to the polls on Oct. 10.

Pundits say Tory's proposal to fund faith-based schools has hurt his chances of leading Ontario's next government. Recent poll results place his Conservatives in second place, roughly eight per cent behind Dalton McGuinty's Liberals.

Wynne, who had earlier in the week accused the Conservative leader of running away from the discussion about religious school funding, pulled no punches in her assessment of Tory's plan, suggesting it could throw the province into a constitutional debate that would "open wounds and pitch neighbour against neighbour."

"Mr. Tory wants to pitch us into a debate about dividing our kids and, I think, attacking the social cohesion of this province," she said to a cacophony of loud boos and applause from the audience.

"We cannot afford to do it socially, we cannot afford to do it financially," she added. "This plan that Mr. Tory has put forward will not promote social cohesion."

B.C., Alberta have similar plans: Tory

Tory defended his plan to extend $400 million in public funding to faith-based schools, saying it would bring thousands of Ontario students who currently attend such schools into the public fold.

"You have to ask yourself, when you hear about the funding of these religious schools as threatening our social cohesion in the province of Ontario, why have we not read about that happening in the province of British Columbia? The province of Alberta?" he asked, rhyming off other parts of the country where religious schools receive public funds.

"I want everyone to be included and to feel included in public education in Ontario."

Tory's answer angered one man who shouted, "You should come to the Middle East," prompting a reprimand from the moderator. The man later confronted Tory after the debate, questioning what would be taught in Jewish schools.

"I hope that they all teach our curriculum, that's what I'm trying to achieve," Tory replied.

But Tory fought back when the question resurfaced later in the debate, confronting Wynne on past comments which he says showed she used to support funding for religious schools.

"She was right then," he said as the crowd erupted in heckles and cheers.

Wynne clarifies her past stance on issue

Wynne later clarified her past comments, saying she had then advocated a public debate on the issue, a discussion she says is too divisive now.

Tory's recent promise to get tough on crime by extending the use of ankle monitoring bracelets to high-risk offenders also drew jeers from the crowd.

But in spite of the verbal sparring, no clear victor emerged from Sunday's exhausting debate.

"I think Kathleen Wynne won," said one woman. "I think it was a very polarized debate … people seem to feel very strongly about that educational issue."

"I actually changed my point of view totally as a result of this meeting," a man said as he left the building, adding that he'd vote Conservative instead of Green.

Afterwards, Tory expressed some regret that the "high spirits" of the crowd marred part of the debate on religious schools.

"A good many of the people here were partisans, so these kinds of things happen," Tory said.

"But I'd like to think that with all the time that I've provided for with this policy — a year of consultation, a year of pilot projects — we'll have time to have a thoughtful, reasonable discussion about how we can address a problem that does exist."