Latest News
Sept 19, 2008 Leonard Baak, President, Education Equality in Ontario, advocates One School System on TV Ontario's The Agenda with Steve Paiken
Sept 11, 2008 One School System Network publishes editorial in National Post Time to put an end to Ontarios support for separate school system. The authors were Malcolm Buchanan, former executive secretary of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and a member of Civil Rights in Public Education and Bryan Kerman,former environmental scientist, chairman of All4One and co-ordinator of the One School System Network.
May 26, 2008 Canadian Secular Alliance Science Advisor Jeff Sharom produces document Ontario taxpayers finance science teaching materials containing religious doctrine documenting abhorrent manner in which catholicism permeates every facet of tax-payer funded catholic school curricula. A good example is p.44 on evolution, which should chill anyone who supports the secular school system or secular society "...in a secular culture, which trivializes all forms of religious beliefs and culture, students could fall victim to the malaise of our time, which is despair. Despair means without hope. When we teach science from a catholic perspective, we lead our students out of the despair of meaninglessness, toward the hope of our salvation."
March 12, 2008 The Canadian Secular Alliance, a national political advocacy organization advancing secularism, science, reason and free inquiry & expression, joins the One School System Network
January 4, 2008 Robert Runciman, Leader of the Ontario Conservative Party, responds to an OSSN letter on their party's position during the election, stating "The Ontario PC Caucus gathered together after the election and it was decided that we will not pursue the policy of faith based education any further. It was felt that the electorate made their position very clear and it is our responsibility to respect and adhere to their wishes." READ
December 12, 2007 Premiere Dalton McGuinty responds to an e-mail message, personally reaffirming his commitment to continued discrimination against 70% of our Ontario children. READ
October 30, 2007 Alberta One School System formed in affiliation with OSSN, and the Australian Council for the Defence of Government Schools (D.O.G.S.) joins as an OSSN supporter. See more info
October 25, 2007 BREAKING NEWS John Tory drops his misguided policy to fully fund all religious schools, making it clear the only solution to the current descriminatory system to end ALL government funded religious schools - ie: the catholic separate school board �
October 22, 2007 OSSN becomes an international issue: groups in Alberta, Newfoundland, the UK and Australia have contacted us to learn how we can work together to keep public schools in pluralistic democracies secular and religiously neutral. More info on these groups will be forthcoming in Supporters
October 15, 2007 Frank de Jong, leader of the One School System supporting Grearty of Ontario, defended ending government funded catholic schools, on TVO's The Agenda. Podcast available here
October 11, 2007 Election results: The Liberals win a majority government, but the Liberal and Conservative party lose popular vote since the 2003 election (4.17% and 2.96% respectfully). The Green party triples their popular vote
October 7, 2007 New poll shows 70% of people want the elimination of public funding to catholic schools and the creation of one secular school system, with only 23% favouring continued funding of catholic public schools and 7% extending funding to new religious schools Link
October 7, 2007 Janice Kennedy of the Ottawa Citizen criticizes the hypocrisy of the Liberal and NDP parties, and calls for One School System in the aftermath of the election in an article Losing FAITH: In a multicultural, secular society, publicly funded schools should be about education, not religion
Otober 6, 2007 Tom Harpur, controversial Anglican minister and author of "Pagan Christ", a longtime supporter of public faith schools, becomes a one school system supporter, calling for the end of publicly funded catholic schools READ
October 5, 2007 Justin Trottier explains the international issues related to OSS on the Point of Inquiry podcast.
October 3, 2007 One School System Network hosts press conference in front of Queen's Park, updating the press on our campaign and introducing new members and supporters, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Humanist Association of Canada, Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity and the Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Public Statement of Progressive Trustee Network by Jan Johnstone
Public Statement of One School System Network by Bryan Kerman
Public Statement from Malcolm Buchanan, Civil Rights in Public Education, Inc.
Public Statement from Justin Trottier, Centre for Inquiry Ontario and Freethought Association of Canada
October 1, 2007 Bryan Kerman, OSSN coordinator, releases History Of Popular Opinion Before 2007 Ontario Provincial Election documenting the positive effect OSSN is having on the direction of the election
September 30, 2007 The Oraynu Congregation of Humanistic Judaism, and the Humanist Association of Canada, both join as supporting organizations of the One School System Network. See the Supporters section for more info
September 25, 2007 Education Equality in Ontario releases new brochure and urges all supporters to print and distribute
September 24, 2007 One School System Network releases Press Release in support of CCLA position See here
September 21, 2007 Canadian Civil Liberties Association releases A joint statement against the funding of religious schools
September 19, 2007 Have faith in public education written by Canadian dignitaries including Dr. Roberta Bondar, Dr. Ursula Franklin, and Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld published in Toronto Star
September 17, 2007 Frank de Jong, Green Party of Ontario leader, interviewed on TVO's The Agenda, speaking on why he supports one secular public school system, based partly on his experiences in the catholic school system See full interview shortly
September 16, 2007 Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity joins the One School System Network. Visit Members for more info
September 15, 2007 Centre for Inquiry Ontario editorial appears in Windsor Star, One system teaches kids to learn, live together
September 10, 2007 Members of the One School System Network appear on CBC The National, speaking on the first day of the Ontario election campaign
August 24, 2007 Dan Gardner, columnist for Ottawa Citizen, has major piece published McGuinty's schools hypocrisy, The Ottawa Citizen, August 24, 2007.
August 19, 2007 Green Party of Ontario releases position in favour of One School System, making it one of their three bedrock proposals in the 2007 election Greens aim for non-environmental buzz, Toronto Star, August 19, 2007.
August 18, 2007 Deputy Premiere and Toronto Centre liberal George Smitherman answers questions regarding the government's position on funding faith based catholic schools with "you have all the f*!&ing answers - Why are you asking me questions". Is this a reasoned response or is it indicative that there are no reasoned responses to the obvious hypocrisy of the current liberal position
August 16, 2007 Centre for Inquiry Ontario Executive Director Justin Trottier pushes the One School System solution with a very sympathetic Jeff Allen on his Waterloo radio show on 570 News. 5 of 6 call ins are in support of our position, consistent with current polls LISTEN HERE
July 30, 2007 Press Conference for One Public Secular School System was hosted at Queen's Park at 11am. Details Look for speeches and video here shortly.
Press Conference - July 30, 2007 - Part 2
Press Conference - July 30, 2007 - Part 3
Press Conference - July 30, 2007 - Part 4
Press Conference - July 30, 2007 - Part 5
Homa Arjomand, Coordinator, International Campaign Against Sharia Courts in Canada
Justin Trottier, Executive Director, Centre for Inquiry Ontario
Gretta Vosper, Chair, Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity
Elka Enola, President of the Halton-Peel Humanist Community
Kevin Saldanha, Chair, Coalition for a Unified Public School System
Jan Johnstone, English Trustees for One School System
July 24, 2007 The Centre for Inquiry Ontario, member group of OSSN, editorial: The Only Fair, Democratic, Economic and Multicultural Solution is ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM
July 24, 2007 All4One, member group of OSSN, Press Release
July 24, 2007 The Muslim Canadian Congress, member group of OSSN, press release: MCC rejects John Tory plan to fund private religious schools
June 21, 2007 Education Equality in Ontario, member group of OSSN, press release: Tory education plan would hurt public education, divide society
Jun 26, 2007 On CBC News, this morning, a new poll conducted for the CBC shows most people in Ontario want the public and Catholic school systems merged into one. The Oracle Research poll shows 58 per cent of the respondents want to see a single publicly funded education system, while 29 per cent prefer the status quo. The rest are undecided. In recent months a number of school boards in the province, public school boards, have passed motions calling for a single education system. The Oracle poll questioned 600 people between May 20th and 28th. It is considered accurate within 4 per cent, 19 times out of 20."
June 22, 2007 OSSN hosted its first Press Conference at the Ontario legislature, featuring the following speakers:
Malcolm Buchanan, Chair-Civil Rights in Public Education Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter and former President and General Secretary, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
Jan Johnstone, English Trustees for One School System, and Bluewater District School Board Trustee
Farzana Hassan, President, Muslim Canadian Congress
Ron Banerjee, Spokesperson, Hindu Conference of Canada
For Immediate Release:
On Friday, June 22, 2007 at 10 AM in the Media Room at Queen�s Park a new organization, One School System Network (OSSN), will introduce itself and its 10 current member organizations: OSSN seeks the elimination of religious discrimination and costly duplication in the Ontario school system through the establishment of a single, secular, publicly funded school system for each official language (English and French). OSSN calls for a merger of the assets of Ontario's public and separate systems in the new English and French secular systems. OSSN calls upon the Government of Ontario to uphold its obligations under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and various international human rights instruments by withdrawing public funding for all sectarian religious schools. OSSN encourages the Liberals and NDP to join the Greens to support one publicly funded system for each official language to avoid the costly and socially divisive Conservative proposal for extended funding.
Information: Bryan Kerman 905-648-2028
The One School System Network formally created at a meeting held at the Centre for Inquiry Ontario. Those present included reps from our member organizations and supporters (May 2007) - see members and supporters
The Green party of Ontario has adopted a one school system policy to end waste and religious discrimination (April 13, 2007) - see article
Media
Videos Letters Articles Radio General
PUBLIC EVENTS
October 5, 2007 John Tory's plan to fund religious schools is a threat to Ontario's kids"Hosted by the Muslim Canadian Congress at Centre for Inquiry Ontario, 216 Beverley St.
Featuring: Victoria Serda (Green party deputy leader), Farzana Hassan (President, Muslim Canadian Congress), Tarek Fatah (Author, "Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State"), Raheel Raza (President, Forum for Learning)
September 21, 2007 Catholic Public Schools: Constitutional Right or Archaic Privilege? (University of Toronto) Featuring Jan Johnstone, Bluewater District School Board Trustee
September 18, 2007 Catholic Public Schools: Constitutional Right or Archaic Privilege? (University of Guelph) Featuring Malcolm Buchanan, former President and General Secretary, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
Videos
Justin Trottier, Executive Director of the Centre for Inquiry Ontario, addresses the issue of why Ontario should end public funding of Catholic schools and debates Ontario Education Minister Kathleen Wynne on CityOnline (3 Parts)
CityOnline interview - Part 2
CityOnline interview - Part 3
Edward Ackad of the Coalition for a Unified Public School System questions Premier Dalton McGuinty on CTV on the public funding of catholic schools
Editorials
Malcolm Buchanan, former executive secretary of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and a member of Civil Rights in Public Education and Bryan Kerman, former environmental scientist, chairman of All4One and co-ordinator of the One School System Network, Time to put an end to Ontarios support for separate school system, The National Post, Sept 11, 2008.
Letters to the EditorJ.B. Ross, Problem with faith-based schooling is faith, The Brampton Guardian, November 5, 2007.
Ruedi Mueller, A public good, Ottawa Citizen, October 25, 2007.
Jeffrey Perkins, Letter,Calgary Herald, October 24, 2007.
David Gorman, Send all our children to the same schools, Waterloo Record, October 23, 2007.
Les Mcculloch, Re: fold public schools into separate, Thunder Bay Chronicle, October 17, 2007.
Secular education isn't about racism,Windsor Star, october 17, 2007.
David Wiseman, Re: Kids used as pawns,Ottawa Citizen, october 15, 2007.
Pay for special education, not religion classes,Ottawa Citizen, October 15, 2007.
Letters,Osprey Media Group, October 10, 2007.
Maxwell Yalden, Canada ignores UN on schools policy,Ottawa Citizen, October 6, 2007.
Jeffrey Kelly, Not all Catholics hold same views on funding,September 27, 2007.
Harry Lieberman,Thousands waiting in line,Toronto Star, September 26, 2007.
Jim Howard, One open-minded school system is best,Waterloo Record, September 26, 2007.
Roslyn Frankl,Benefits all,Ottawa Citizen, September 26, 2007.
Horst Klaus,Parents should shoulder the cost of all faith-based education - Catholic included,The Standard, September 24, 2007.
Deborah Moyer, A Multinational Nation,The Record, September 24, 2007.
Mike Duynhoven, Not voting Liberal,The Record, September 24, 2007.
Bruce Patterson, School plan may cost Tory core support,National Post, September 22, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, A true public system eliminates religion, Toronto Star, September 21, 2007.
Various dignitaries, Have faith in public education (OPEN LETTER),Toronto Star, September 19, 2007.
Various, Diversity not on the curriculum at faith-based schools,National Post, September 18, 2007.
McGuinty ignores facts of education,Sudbury Star, September 18, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Re: McGuinty is fooling Ontarians, Sep 17, 2007, September 17, 2007.
Justin Trottier, One system teaches kids to learn, live together,Windsor Star, September 15, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Re: God In The Classroom - Letters, Sep. 14, Globe and Mail, September 15, 2007.
John Holstein, Strip faith-based schools of government funding, Windsor Star, September 14, 2007.
Julia Burgess, As a school board trustee...Windsor Star, September 8, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Local Catholic School board promotes segregationAncaster News, September 7, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Local Catholic School board promotes segregationDundas Star News, September 7, 2007.
Various, The genesis of a setback?Toronto Star, September 7, 2007.
Mary-Rose Brown, Tory plan harmfulThe Ottawa Citizen, September 2, 2007.
Qumers Wejdan, McGuinty right about segregationThe Ottawa Citizen, September 2, 2007.
Paul Sheppard, Faith based Education FundingLondon Free Press, September 2, 2007.
Dalton McGuinty, Re: It's A Matter Of Fairness, Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka, Aug 29,National Post, September 1, 2007.
John Holstein, We need to end government-funded religiousThe Windsor Star, September 1, 2007.
G.A. Harris, Reader says one school system would be bestLondon Free Press, September 1, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Re: Apologize, Jewish groups tell McGuinty> , August 31, 2007.
Christina Blizzard, Ah, sweet hypocrisy - Slushgate, faith-based schools show Liberals practise "do what we say,not what we do" politics , Toronto Sun, August 31, 2007.
J.S. Ritchie, Quality education should be a birthright, The Sun times, August 31, 2007.
David Fowler, Timing right for single public school system,Welland Tribune, August 31, 2007.
John Snobelen, Education platform about more than funding, Toronto Sun, August 31, 2007.
Andrew Block, Public schools will be big losers, The Toronto Star, August 29, 2007.
Betsy Hall, Local Liberal Candidate Vote Crucial to Education, Orangeville Citizen, August 30, 2007.
J.S. Ritchie, Quality education should be a birthright; We owe it to our children to develop the most efficient and effective education system possible, Owen Sound Sun Times, August 30, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, Re: , The London Free Press, August 30, 2007.
Peter McKegney, Re: , The London Free Press, August 30, 2007.
Kendall Carey, Religious Education, National Post, August 20, 2007.
Dave Bagler, Green and refreshing, Toronto Sun, August 30, 2007.
Jack Poirier,Religious school funding plan rapped,The Observer, August 30, 2007.
Canada Immigration Blog, Preventing Discrimination Versus Encouraging Multiculturalism, canadavisa.com, August 29, 2007.
Barry Smith, Re: 'Private school funding', The Hamilton Spectator, August 24, 2007.
Robert Cannons, One School System, Toronto Sun, August 24, 2007.
Glen Morehouse, Joseph Y. Adler, Re: school funding a key issue, Toronto Star, August 24, 2007.
Gegs Jones, Constitution allows funding to be revoked,August 23, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, Aryeh Snitman, Putting faith in voters, , August 22, 2007.
Susan McBride, One System, One Formula, The Ottawa Citizen, August 22, 2007.
Bill Steel, Fund only public schools, August 18, 2007.
Harry Turnpenny, Tory wrong on schools, August 18, 2007.
Paula Conning, Should we fund additional religious schools?, The Brampton Guardian, August 17, 2007.
Bruce Patterson, Teachers' union should back one school system, Toronto Star, August 17, 2007.
Paula Conning, Tory's Conservatives pandering to Multi-Faith Coalition, Owen Sound Sun Times, August 15, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, Faiths cause problems, Waterloo Record, August 15, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Re: Religious Schools Deserve Support, Aug. 11., National Post, August 13, 2007.
Leonard Baak, A single system for all, National Post, August 13, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Catholic system is a legacy from the past, Waterloo Record, August 11, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, Stop favouring catholics, National Post, August 10, 2007.
Julius Toth, Teach world religions but tighten funding, Waterloo Record, August 10, 2007.
Gila Gladstone-Martow, Equal funding only fair, Waterloo Record, August 10, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, Re: Faith-Based Schools Help Multiculturalism, , National Post, August 10, 2007.
Dorothy Hays, Letter,, Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, August 8, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Treading where governments ought not to treat, Toronto Star, August 8, 2007.
Paula Conning, Politicians fear losing votes, Toronto Star, August 08, 2007.
Bill Grubb, Eliminate funding, Pembroke Observer Saturday, August 4, 2007.
Leonard Baak, Classrooms should mirror makeup of society, Stoney Creek News, Aug 3, 2007.
Peter W. Jones, We need separation of church and state, Orillia Packet, August 2, 2007.
Malcolm Muchanan, Faith-based schools segregate children, Mountain News,July 6th, 2007.
Malcolm Muchanan, Pope fuels intolerance, Hamilton Spectator, July 11th, 2007.
Leonard Baak, "Fewer school boards better", Sudbury Star, Apr 20, 2007.
Jim Douglas, "Fund single education system to treat each child equally", Hamilton Mountain News, Apr. 20, 2007.
Michael James, "One system for all and all for one", Toronto Star, Apr 19, 2007.
Edward Ackad, "Move to one school system.", Sault Star, Apr. 19, 2007.
Derrick Kelly, "One school system not new to Greens", Cobourg Daily Star, Apr 18, 2007.
Norman Fowler, "It's time to create one provincial school system", Waterloo Record, Apr. 16, 2007.
Gord Wickenden, "Values, tolerance taught", Ottawa Citizen, Apr. 16, 2007Editorial, "An obsolete privilege", Ottawa Citizen, Apr. 13, 2007.
Lisa Cole, "Two systems excessive burden on education funding", Ancaster News, Apr. 13, 2007.
Edward Ackad, "Favouring one religion over another is terrible", Hamilton Mountain News, Apr. 13, 2007.
Bryan Kerman, "Trustees deserve support for suggesting one school system", Hamilton Mountain News, Apr. 13, 2007.
Tom Roden, "Separate school funding encourages distrust", Stoney Creek News, Apr. 13, 2007.
Mary Golem, "Bluewater board supports idea for single school board", Hanover Post, Apr. 13, 2007.
Michael Jiggins, "Public versus Catholic board?", Brockville Recorder & Times, Apr. 12, 2007.
Don Crosby, "Bluewater trustees disappoint Catholic official", Owen Sound Sun Times, Apr. 12, 2007.
Karen Kawawada, "School boards urged to support one system", Waterloo Record, Apr. 11, 2007.
J. J. Humphries, "Growing up together", Ottawa Citizen, Apr. 11, 2007.
Peter Jones, "One school system would solve financial shortages", Hamilton Spectator, Apr. 10, 2007.
Malcolm Buchanan, "One public school system would mean an end to wasteful duplication, high costs", Hamilton Mountain News, Apr. 6, 2007.
Edward Ackad, "Those who want specific education should pay for it", Ancaster News, Apr. 6, 2007.
Leonard Baak, "Turn out lights on publicly funded Catholic schools", Sault Star, Apr. 2, 2007.
John Grubber, "Four Sudbury area school boards fosters divisiveness, not co-operation", Sudbury Star, Mar. 30, 2007.
Frances Sewards, "We will be able to fund only one school system", Sault Star, Mar. 29, 2007.
George Buckrell, "Ontario only needs one school board system", Windsor Star, Mar. 27, 2007.
Ernie Checkeris, "One school board best for children", Sudbury Star, Mar. 26, 2007.
Ernie Checkeris, "One school board idea has merit", NorthernLife.ca, Mar. 22, 2007.
Edward Ackad, "One school board will save money", Sudbury Star, Mar. 20, 2007.
Wendy Farrington, "Amalgamating school boards would improve the system", Ottawa Citizen, Mar. 11, 2007.
Peter Jones, "Single public school system would save millions of dollars", Brantford Expositor, Mar. 9, 2007.
Leonard Baak, "End waste of separate Catholic education system", Niagara this Week, Mar. 7, 2007.
Stuart Chambers, "Single school system best meets all students�� needs", Ottawa Citizen, Feb. 25, 2007.
Leonard Baak, "Against discrimination", Ottawa Citizen, Feb. 25, 2007.
Brian Nieminen, "Sounds like Utopia", Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal, Feb. 24. 2007.
Murray Oickle, "Ontario school system is unfair", Ottawa Citizen, Feb. 20, 2007.
Leonard Baak, "Catholic education discriminates unfairly", Ottawa Citizen, Feb. 10, 2007.
Susan McBride, "A frugal education", Toronto Star, Feb. 9, 2007.
Michael Dembe, "Ontario's education system is unfair" Hamilton Spectator, Feb. 8, 2007.
Faisal Khawaja, "Faith-based schools are segregation", Hamilton Spectator, Feb. 5, 2007.
Michael Armstrong, "Public and faith-based schools do differ", Hamilton Spectator, Feb. 2, 2007.
Geraint Jones, "Discrimination", Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 22, 2007.
Steve Fouchard, "One school system the only fair option", The News EMC (Nepean/Barrhaven, Ottawa West, and Ottawa South editions), Jan 18, 2007.
Dec 4 - Windsor Star Letter: "No constitutional right to denominational schools"
Nov. 18-25 - "Toronto Star letter chain re: Religious school funding"
Sep 27 - Education Equality in Ontario joins petition campaign.
Sep 21 - Toronto Star Letter: Ontario chooses not to end practice
Mar 2 - Windsor Star Editorial: School system: The debate Ontario needsFeb 2006:
Feb 23 - Ottawa Citizen Editorial: Public funds, public schools
Feb 22 - Toronto Star Editorial: "Tory's plan hurts public education"
ArticlesSteve Paiken, School funding issue may not be over yet,Brantford Expositor, November 7, 2007.
Kelly Gadzala, Prue a shoo-in again for NDP in Beaches,Town Crier, November 7, 2007.
Antonella Artuso, Faith-based school funding good as dead,Standard Freeholder, October 2007.
Robert Benzie, Tory to 'fight' for his job: PC leader drops plan to fund religious schools,Toronto Star, October 25, 2007.
Karen Howlett, Tory admits faith-based schools funding mistake,October 25,2007.
Jason Toporowski, Self-imposed segregation has no place in Canada,Waterloo Record, October 24, 2007.
Karen Howlett, Tory urged to drop schools policy,Globe and Mail, October 24, 2007.
Faith-based schools debate isn't over yet,London Free Press, October 15, 2007.
Faith-based school funding swayed voters, Hamilton Spectator, october 13, 2007.
Embarrassing themselves, Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2007.
Educating Tory, The Chronicle Herald, October 12, 2007.
Dan Gardner, Fear of 'those people' in Ontario,Ottawa Citizen, October 12, 2007.
Michael Valpy, The Ontario Election 2007 Winners & Losers,National Post, October 11, 2007.
Christina Blizzard, Votes are against Tory, not for McGuinty,The Standard, October 10, 2007.
James Wallace, Only Howie's rep improved,Toronto Sun, October 10, 2007.
Joey Slinger, Tory's political suicide was riveting, Toronto Star, October 9, 2007.
Louise Brown, Catholic schools feel fallout of Tory's idea, Toronto Star, October 8, 2007.
Rob Ferguson, Go to one public system, panel says ,Toronto Star, October 8, 2007.
Janice Kennedy, Losing FAITH: In a multicultural, secular society, publicly funded schools should be about education, not religion ,Ottawa Citizen, October 7, 2007.
Tom Harpur, Time for radical tethink of faith-based funding,Toronto Star, October 6, 2007.
Gord Henderson, Pragmatic politics,Windsor Star, October 6, 2007.
Salim Mansur, How stupid is this idea?,Toronto Sun, October 6, 2007.
Mark Fischer, Conservatives opened Pandora's box at their peril,The Barrie Examiner,October 6, 2007
Carol Rodrigues,Collection plate could be cut off,The Varsity, September 26, 2007.
Caroline Alphonso,McGuinty opens door to possibility of minority,Globe and Mail, September 26, 2007.
Kerry Gillespie,Provincial government urged to stop paying for Catholic system as civil liberties group weighs in on debate,Toronto Star, September 24, 2007.
L. Ian MacDonald,Tory is fast on his feet, but he has to dance around school issue,Montreal Gazette, September 24, 2007.
Jennifer Lewington, End funding for all faith-based schools, group demands,Globe and Mail, September 24, 2007.
Kristin Rushowy,UNEASY MOSAIC: Schoolgirls 'equal' yet segregated,Toronto Star, September 22, 2007.
Lynda Hurst, The roots of discord over religious schools,Toronto Star, September 22, 2007.
Siri Agrell, ONTARIO VOTES: EDUCATION Tory stands firm on religious-school funding,Toronto Star, September 18, 2007.
Stuart Laidlaw,After gym class, God 101, Toronto Star, September 15, 2007.
Stylianos Perrakis'Affording' religious schools,Financial Post>, September 15, 2007.
Local Tory dismayed by school funding debate,The Kingston Whig Standard, September 14, 2007.
Kelly McParland, Dalton Does it Again, National Post, September 14, 2007.
Ian Urquhart, McGuinty staking future on religious school stance, Toronto Star, September 11, 2007.
Kate Lunau,The Macleans.ca Interview: David Clegg, The president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario,Macleans, September 10, 2007.
Mike Pearson, Opinion split on education reformAncaster News, September 7, 2007.
Doug Hart, Public historically cool to faith-based fundingToronto Star, September 6, 2007.
Glenn Wheeler, No Faith in Fairness, NOW magazine, Aug5-Sept5, 2007.
Neil Reynolds, Ontario Premiere Dalton McGuinty...National Post, September 5, 2007.
Persichilli, School issue promises to be nastyToronto Sun, September 2, 007.
Lee Grenberg, Catholic Schools Criticized Over Silence: Faith-based debateNational Post, Canwest News Service, September 1, 2007.
Lee Greenberg, Ont. Catholics silent on faith-based schools question, CanWest News Service, August 31, 2007.
James Wallace,Liberals need help: new poll, Peterborough Examiner, August 30, 2007.
Jonathan Sher, Sorbara Says school setup must remain, London Free Press, August 30, 2007.
Tory's plan fails with secular lot, Ottawa Sun, August 24, 2007.
McGuinty's schools hypocrisy, The Ottawa Citizen, August 24, 2007.
Tories grab hot potato, again, Toronto Sun, August 24, 2007.
Should taxpayers' dollars fund other religious schools?, The Kawarthan, August 24, 2007.
Tory's proposal to fund all faith schools would cost $500M: Wynne, Toronto Star, August 24, 2007.
Green Party to propose scrapping publicly-funded Catholic schools, Belleville Intelligencer, August 20, 2007.
Why seven wrongs don't make a right, Globe and Mail, August 20, 2007.
Greens aim for non-environmental buzz, Toronto Star, August 19, 2007.
Green Party Proposes End Of Funding To Catholic Schools, CityNews.ca, August 19, 2007.
Secular Muslims Oppose John Tory's plan, Natinal Post, August 9, 2007.
Funding religious schools is bad policy, National Post, August 9, 2007.
Faith-based schools study already exists, Toronto Star, August 05, 2007.
Jean-Claude LeClerk, �cole catholique : l�Ontario va-t-il conna�tre sa crise identitaire?, Le DevoirJuly 30, 2007.
Canadian Hindus support One School System, Toronto Sun, June 22, 2007.
Talking to Bryan Kerman, Hamilton Spectator, June 25, 2007.
Editorial on Green Party of Ontario support for one school system, Various headlines, North Bay Nugget, Kingston Whig-Standard, Apr 18, 2007, Barrie Examiner, Apr. 17, 2007, Port Hope Evening Guide, Cobourg Daily Star, Apr. 16, 2007.
Apr. 13 - Green Party of Ontario supports one school system (see news release and policy).Lisa Cole, "Two systems excessive burden on education funding", Dundas Star News, Apr. 13, 2007.
Antonella Artuso, "'We're not going there'", Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, Apr. 11, 2007.
Lindsey Coad, "Trustees back proposal for single school board", Chatham Daily News, Apr. 11, 2007.
Lindsey Coad, "Calling for one school board", Sarnia Observer (print), Apr. 11, 2007.
Lindsey Coad, "Trustees call for single school board", Sarnia Observer (online), Apr. 11, 2007.
Maria Kubacki, "Board to vote on forming single school system", Ottawa Citizen, Apr. 10, 2007.
Moria MacDonald, "Separate schools under fire", Toronto Sun, Apr. 9, 2007.
Should the four school boards based in Sudbury be amalgamated?", Sudbury Star, Apr. 9, 2007.
Star Staff, "Smaller isn't better", Sudbury Star, Apr. 9, 2007.
Maria Kubacki, "Coalition calls for all-faith funding", Ottawa Citizen, Apr. 7, 2007.
Scott Paradis, "School board requests funding equality", Timmins Daily Press, Apr. 7, 2007.
Mary Golem, "Board backs one school system", Owen Sound Sun Times, Apr. 4, 2007.
Richard Leitner, "Trustees want to scrap publicly funded Catholic system", Hamilton Mountain News, Mar. 30, 2007.
Richard Leitner, "Trustees want to scrap publicly funded Catholic system", Stoney Creek News, Mar. 30, 2007.
Richard Leitner, "Trustees want Catholic funding scrapped", Dundas Star News, Mar. 30, 2007.
Richard Leitner, "Trustees want Catholic funding scrapped", Ancaster News, Mar. 30, 2007.
Bryn Weese, "Near North supports one public school board", North Bay Nugget, Mar. 29, 2007.
Michael Purvis, "One board? OK says public: No way says Catholic.", Sault Star, Mar. 29, 2007.
Monica Wolfson, "School board merger pitched", Windsor Star, Mar. 23, 2007.
Don Crosby, "Trustees hear of movement aimed at getting rid of separate school system", Owen Sound Sun Times, Mar. 22, 2007.
Rob O'Flanagan, "Rainbow board pushes for single board", Sudbury Star, Mar. 20, 2007.
Rainbow board wants one system", NorthernLife.ca, Mar. 20, 2007.
Louise Pinet, "Groups seeks one French system", Sudbury Star, Mar. 17, 2007.
Moria MacDonald, "Schools fight for faith funds", Toronto Sun, Mar. 12, 2007.
Carol Mulligan, "Rainbow continues fight for single board", Sudbury Star, Mar. 12, 2007.
Mar. 6 - Muslim Canadian Congress endorses one school system for Ontario.Gegs Jones, "Ottawa Citizen, Mar. 2, 2007.
Kate Schwass, "Grand Erie plugging one school system", The Tillsonburg News, Feb. 21, 2007.
"Trustee promoting idea of one school system", Brantford Expositor, Feb. 14, 2007.
Christina Blizzard, "School budget hypoGrits", Toronto Sun, Feb. 7, 2007.
Paula Conning, "Schools that divide and separate", Hamilton Spectator, Feb. 3, 2007.
Various authors, "Public means public", Toronto Star, Feb. 1, 2007.
Peter Jones, "The Catholic Church and Ontario Tax", Hamilton Spectator, Jan. 22, 2007.
Erin Kelly, "Lobby group fights for religious neutrality in school system", The EMC (Kanata, West Carleton, and Stittsville/Richmond editions), Jan. 25, 2007.
Ken Gallinger, "Public money for Catholic schools wrong", Toronto Star, Jan. 13, 2007.
Nov. 14 - Orangeville Banner: Petition advocates one public school systemNov. 14 - Peter Jones, a non-Catholic who ran for Catholic school trustee in Brantford (Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board) after his children were turned away from his neighbourhood separate school, received 1147 votes in the recent municipal election from "Catholic school supporters". Peter was very open with the media and the public about his support for a single public school system during the campaign. Peter also had no difficulty designating himself as a "Catholic school supporter" so that he could vote for himself in the election. According to Ministry of Education legal staff, "only Roman Catholics can be separate school supporters". This is not the first time we have come across indications that this restriction is not enforced (please tell us if you know of others). That raises interesting questions about the true level of "support" conveyed by the school support designations on municipal property assessments, never mind the fact many "supporters" are happy to vote for a "one school system" trustee candidate.
Nov 7 - Waterloo Record: Catholic candidates express fear - Board hopefuls worry about future of Catholic schools across Ontario
Oct 27 - Toronto Star Letter: Band-Aid solution to schools' woesOct 21 - Windsor Star Letter: School 'taxpayers' need a donation receipt
Aug 9 - Education Equality in Ontario News Release: Bill 107 ignores the obvious discrimination in Ontario schools.
Mar 7 - An OSSTF Study on the Financial and Educational Implications of Implementing the Confederated School Board Model released ahead of OSSTF Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly (AMPA 06), March 10-13, 2006.Mar 7 - Green Party of Ontario advocates a confederated or unified school system (see news release.
Feb 23 - Ottawa Sun: A drive for public funding of faith-based schools ...
Feb 21 - Education Equality in Ontario news release: Tory plan fails to address the problem
Feb 21 - Globe & Mail Editorial: Tory's funding impulse
Feb 19 - Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory announces that the party's 2007 election platform will address the discrimination in the Ontario school system, particularly with respect to funding for non-Catholic religious schools and perhaps for other groups as well. He specifically ruled out the possibility of dismantling the separate school system as part of the remedy to that discrimination, virtually assuring the plan's insufficiency as a remedy. Any tax credit good enough for some should be good enough for all. The duplication in our school system must also be addressed to ensure better stewardship of the financial resources committed to the education of our children.
Jan 30 - Education Equality in Ontario News Release: Education Equality in Ontario asks Ontario Government Committee to recommend one school system in Ontario
Jan 20 - Ottawa Citizen: Parent groups to ask province to eliminate Catholic boards
Jan 20 - Ottawa Sun: Catholic board questioned
RadioJustin Trottier explains the international issues related to OSS on the Point of Inquiry podcast, Oct 5, 2007.
One School System for Ontario, Justin Trottier, Freethought Association of Canada President and Executive Director of the Centre for Inquiry Ontario AM570 Waterloo Radio, Jeff Allen show, August 16, 2005, 9am.
Opposition to funding of faith based schools (see July 25, 2007)" CBC Ottawa Morning, July 25, 2007.
Public Board Supports Forming Single School System", AM 580 CFRA News Ottawa, Apr. 10, 2007.
Public Board Supports One Board Motion", CKNX AM 920 Radio, Mar. 28, 2007.
Lynn Martin Show, "Do you support a call to merge all school boards?", AM 800 CKLW Windsor, Mar. 23, 2007.
GeneralJan. 31 - Geraint Jones and Leonard Baak travelled to Belleville, where they made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs concerning the wastefulness and fiscal inequities that plague of the Ontario school system (see news release and Hansard).Doreen Dewar, "Time to consider one public education system", Sudbury Star, Jan. 23, 2007.
Feb. 19 - Education Equality in Ontario unveiled its plan to engage parents in the one school system initiative by writing to all public school councils in Ontario (News Release)."Around the Region", London Free Press, Feb. 15, 2007.
Nov. 25 - 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Canada supported this Declaration when proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1981 and has boasted about their support for the instrument. Sadly, 25 years later, non-Catholic Ontarians are still waiting for such intolerance and discrimination to be eliminated from our school system.
Aug 9 - Education Equality in Ontario president Leonard Baak and chairman Thomas Layer made a presentation to the Ontario Government's Standing Committee on Justice Policy public hearings on Bill 107, Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006.
Jan 27 - Education Equality in Ontario president Leonard Baak made a presentation to the Ontario Government's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs calling upon them to recommend a single school system for Ontario (see Hansard).
Nov 16 - Delegates from a multi-faith coalition rallied in Ottawa and Toronto to protest the ongoing religious discrimination in the Ontario school system. Rather than supporting a single publicly-funded system, this coalition seeks an extension of Catholic-style separate school rights to other faith groups. That would seriously compound the duplication penalty already borne by the Ontario taxpayer, further fragment the publicly-funded school system, and result in increased religious segregation of Ontario children. The fiscal and social costs of such a proposal are frightening to contemplate. Presumably each of these new publicly-funded separate systems would follow the practices of the Catholic system in discriminating against people of other faiths in admissions and hiring. As much as these people claim to be seeking a remedy to discrimination, it is clear that the discrimination issue is merely a convenient political lever with which they can extricate public funds to support further religious discrimination and segregation. Ontarians should have none of it. One school system would address the discrimination in our school system, eliminate the waste, and create schools that are truly the heart of their communities.November has been a busy month for news relating to our issue. See Letters - November 2005.
Canada was again censured by the UN Human Rights Committee for failing to "adopt steps in order to eliminate discrimination on the basis of religion in the funding of schools in Ontario." (see Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee : Canada. 02/11/2005).
November 2005 marks six years since the Committee found Canada in violation of the equality provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Waldman v. Canada, a violation that could easily be remedied through the creation of a single public school system in Ontario.Iran brushes off a Canadian sponsored UN resolution concerning human rights violations in Iran, stating: "Being charged itself with human rights violations, is Ottawa competent enough to initiate a human rights resolution in the UN against another country?" The incident poignantly underscored the importance of living up to our human rights obligations.When speaking to Chinese law students on a trade mission to China, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed his hopes that the country would soon ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Why? So they can then follow Ontario's lead in ignoring their commitments under that instrument? (see above). If you were waiting for a good opening to write the Premier on the issue of religious discrimination in our school system, that was as good as they come. You might raise the previous two points with him as well.
Education Equality in Ontario presented the case for a single, non-discriminatory school system in Ontario to public school council representatives at the Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils.
A two page handout for school council use in discussing the issue is available here.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a Consultation Report on their review of the effectiveness of the Ontario human rights system as measured against UN standards for an effective human rights system. The religious discrimination in our school system received only a brief mention. That's a shame, because an effective human rights organization, according to those UN standards, would not hesitate to criticize its sponsor government for failing to harmonize its legislation with the obligations contained in the international human rights instruments to which the State is a party. To our knowledge, the OHRC has never criticized the Ontario government for openly violating the equality rights of non-Catholic Ontarians within the context of our school system.
Education Equality in Ontario participated in the public consultation portion of the Ontario Human Rights Commission's review of the effectiveness of the Ontario human rights system.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission initiates a review of the effectiveness of the Ontario human rights system as measured against UN standards for an effective human rights system.