Education

Tax policy paper to urge schools be made private

The London-Middlesex Tax Coalition is also endorsing certain trustee candidates for the London board of education.

By KELLEY TEAHEN
The London Free Press

Advocates of lower taxes are stepping up a fight to change public education in London.

Jim Montag, president of the London-Middlesex Tax Coalition, promises a policy paper "within the next couple weeks" advocating that all educational institutions become private, with parents directing education taxes to the school of their choice.

The coalition also has started endorsing candidates running for trustee on the London board of education. The first of these is coalition member Bob Metz, president of Ontario's Freedom Party.

"I really don't care what party he's with, as long as he supports our views, which he does," says Montag.

The tax coalition "will endorse candidates who have a chance of holding the line on taxes," Metz said, adding some of those endorsed may be incumbent trustees.

TEACHERS' UNION: Metz, registered to run in Ward 7, has been battling the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation's plan to oppose trustee candidates who are members of Ontario's tax coalition.

The tax coalition, a non-partisan group, and the Freedom Party have found themselves on the same side of the rope in the tug-of-war between lower-tax advocates and the teachers' union.

Metz won't run under the Freedom Party banner and said the party isn't officially sponsoring municipal candidates.

Present Ward 7 trustees are Joyce Bennett, Marilyn Joselyn and John Robinson. Only Robinson has stated publicly he will not run in November's elections but the other two have not yet registered as candidates. Metz is the only candidate registered for the ward.

Earlier this summer, the Freedom Party distributed 10,000 pamphlets in London and St. Thomas, outlining its position on holding the line on education spending. Metz said pamphlets were also given out in the Welland area and more deliveries are planned for London and St. Thomas, with possible expansion into Oxford County.

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Page last updated on April 28, 2002