Politics
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Monday December 17, 2001
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Print- ONTARIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL TAX CREDIT APPROVED WITH MINIMAL RESTRICTIONS
- CANADIAN ALLIANCE BOOTS REBEL MPS FROM PARTY
- MANITOBA PREMIER OFFICIALLY USES WORD 'CHRISTMAS' FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1996
- LORD OF THE RINGS HAS STRONG CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
- RADICAL PRO-ABORTION SENATOR SET TO RETIRE
- LIFESITE NEWSBYTES
ONTARIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL TAX CREDIT APPROVED WITH MINIMAL RESTRICTIONS
TODAY'S HEADLINES
TORONTO, December 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) - Ontario Finance Minister Jim Flaherty faced heavy opposition but came out the winner during intense Ontario cabinet discussions over the independent schools tax credit last week. The Canadian Press reports that at a closed cabinet meeting Wednesday, several provincial ministers attempted to attach restrictions to the tax credit including requirements that eligible independent schools hire certified teachers and follow the Ontario curriculum. However, CP reports that Flaherty was successful in fighting off those restrictions which would have negated much of the parental choice purpose of the independent schools.
Today's government release on the Equity in Tax Education program states that independent school students will not be mandated to take provincial testing. Government requirements for the funding program are:
1) Employees of the independent schools who come into contact with students must submit to criminal record checks.
2) Eligible courses must be the same length of time as those for publicly funded programs under the Education Act.
3) Eligible schools must provide a statement of information to parents and guardians about the school's operations, staff, policies and programs.
Explaining his position to reporters prior to the meeting Flaherty said, "The purpose of the credit is choice for parents, that's why the credit flows to parents. My approach to regulation in that regard is to make sure that the choice is emphasized and maintained." Tighter regulations would amount to having "a fifth public school system" and "interference by government in the operation of private schools," said Flaherty.
See today's Finance Ministry release with the details of the new program (Adobe Acrobat format)
http://www.gov.on.ca/FIN/english/tb01e9.pdf
Back to TopCANADIAN ALLIANCE BOOTS REBEL MPS FROM PARTY
Leadership Heats Up With Grant Hill Entering Race and Day Soon To Follow
OTTAWA, December 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) - In a move some are calling "long overdue" the Canadian Alliance National Council voted Thursday to expel the six rebel MPs from the party for creating party scandal with their public and unreserved criticism of former Alliance Leader Stockwell Day. In a 14 to 13 vote the Council ousted Deborah Gray, Chuck Strahl, Val Meredith, Jay Hill, Grant McNally and Jim Pankiw. Day stepped down as leader last week.
In related news, Grant Hill announced his candidacy for Leader of the party today. In launching his campaign he referred to himself as the 'candidate of cooperation' stressing that his campaign will be about building coalitions, particularly with the members of the Progressive Conservative Party. Campaign Life Coalition records indicate that Hill is pro-life and pro-family.
Mrs. Valorie Day, wife of former Alliance Leader Stockwell Day, gave an interview to Sun Media published today in which she indicates that her husband will be running for leadership again. Speaking of her embattled husband's forced resignation from leadership she said, "I just felt it was an ambush of democracy because the democratic way had already been done. We went through three campaigns last year. Do I like the idea of campaigning every year? Nobody does." She continued, "I think you will see a different campaign...and if he's running, he'll definitely do things differently." Described as feisty by the Sun, Mrs. Day said,"What was the real reason we came here? The reason was because people in Canada had asked us to do this and I feel that I said yes then, and I would be willing to say yes again."
See Grant Hill's campaign page and the Sun interview with Mrs. Day:
http://www.granthill.ca
http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaNews/OS.OS-12-17-0019.html
MANITOBA PREMIER OFFICIALLY USES WORD 'CHRISTMAS' FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1996
Doesn't like taking the word 'Christ' out of Christmas.
WINNIPEG, December 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) - Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has decided to pull back slightly from political correctness ideology with an open reference to a "Christmas tree". The National Post reports that the provincial legislature has not officially used the word "Christmas" since 1996. While the decorated spruce tree at the legislature has been referred to as the multicultural tree since 1990, Doer has decided to rename it a "Christmas tree."
Doer defended his decision saying, "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's not a flamingo . We don't call the menorah that's outside a multicultural candle holder. What we have in our legislature is a Christmas tree." Doer continued, "I don't like taking the word 'Christ' out of Christmas."
For more see the National Post coverage:
http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20011215/879050.html
LORD OF THE RINGS HAS STRONG CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
December 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) - As with Harry Potter, many parents are wondering whether the soon to be released movie blockbuster, Lord of the Rings, with all of its violence, monsters and even some magic is appropriate for them and/or their children. The movie, which is probably too frightening for young children, is closely based on the J.R.R. Tolkien three part novel of the same title. What is not so well known is that the book, and it's epic struggles between good and evil, was written with a strong Catholic Christian perspective.
Tolkien was passionate about his faith and attempted to incorporate that faith's world view into his writings. The EWTN Television network discussed The Lord of the Rings and J.R.R. Tolkien this past Friday in a revealing interview with Tolkien biographer Dr. Joseph Pearce. The program will be re-broadcast tonight at 10 p.m. and then again at 11 p.m. (eastern time) tonight on EWTN. The audio portion of the program is now archived on the EWTN website.
For the Internet audio record of the program go to:
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/frmselecrprog.asp?seriesID=-6892288&T1=The~w... and then go to page 2 and select the last item (#60) from The World Over series.
RADICAL PRO-ABORTION SENATOR SET TO RETIRE
OTTAWA, December 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) - Liberal Senator Sheila Finestone, a radical pro-abortion and pro-homosexual activist politician is retiring from the Senate Jan 28, as she reaches age 75. Finestone, appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chretien in 1999, referred to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which ushered abortion into Canada, as the reason for her entrance into politics in her farewell Friday. Recalling a conversation with former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau she said, "I told him it was all his doing, it was his fault, because he has brought in multicultural rights and women's rights under the umbrella of human rights through the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms," she said.
Finestone's radical pro-abortion stance was highlighted in September 1995 when she led the Canadian delegation to the United Nations' Conference on Women in Beijing. The Canadian delegation led the way in advocating "sexual orientation" (homosexuality) and "reproductive rights" (abortion). The Canadians were deemed perhaps the most radical and aggressive of all those present at the conference; they opposed references to anything which might limit such "rights" - including the laws, beliefs, and even the very sovereignty of individual nations.
See the Canadian Press coverage:
http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSPolitics0112/14_finestone-cp.html
LIFESITE NEWSBYTES
PRESTON MANNING WILL TAKE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO POST
Canadian Press reports that Preston Manning, founder of the Reform Party and its Leader prior to its evolvement into the Canadian Alliance, will become a lecturer at the University of Toronto after he retires from politics in January. His post will begin in the fall. Manning will also become a senior fellow at the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute. His residence remains in Calgary.
AUSTRALIA'S DR. DEATH SEEKING TO 'PRACTICE' IN NEW ZEALAND
The New Zealand Herald reports that Australian euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke still plans to apply for temporary registration as a doctor in New Zealand.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=233769&thesection=news&thesub...
SWITZERLAND REJECTS ACTIVE EUTHANASIA BUT RETAINS PASSIVE EUTHANASIA
Last week the Swiss National Council clearly rejected two bills on euthanasia. One of the them, supported by the Left, proposed active euthanasia but the legislature also rejected a conservative bill to limit the practice. The government will propose legislation aimed at filling the legal vacuum surrounding the practice of two forms of euthanasia: "indirect active" euthanasia, and "passive" euthanasia, both of which are recognized by the Swiss academy of medical sciences.
http://library.northernlight.com/FE20011213090000282.html?cb=0&dx=1006&sc=0#doc
POPULATION OF OVER-65s TRIPLES IN PAST 50 YEARS
The number of people age 65 and older in the world more than tripled over the past half-century. The 65-and-older population increased from 131 million in 1950 to 420 million in 2000, said the report from the Census Bureau and the National Institute on Aging. Italy and Japan have 28% of their population over 65. In developed countries, the issue raises concerns for health care, pensions and retirement benefits. The cause of the percentage increase is the low birth rate according to analysts.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011213/us/global_aging_1.html
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