Freedom Flyer December 1991 Cover

Freedom Flyer 19

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

December 1991




London Free Press coverage of Freedom Party's union warning campaign draws strong criticism from Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation president Liz Barkley who accuses tax-coalition candidates of being "people who destroy."


Articles electronically reproduced from:
August 7, 1991


Freedom Party takes shots at teacher union's tax stance

The teachers' group has declared war on the Ontario coalition of tax protesters and the tiny political party is firing broadside at the union.

By TONY HODGKINSON
The London Free Press

A tax fight has grown messier with the London-based Freedom Party pitting itself against a union representing Ontario public secondary school teachers.

The Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation has come out swinging against a province-wide coalition opposed to higher property taxes.

But the Freedom Party has retaliated with street distribution in London and St Thomas of about 10,000 bulletins designed "to help the public make an informed decision in this David and Goliath battle.

Plans are under way to extend the campaign to the Toronto and Niagara areas, as well as the counties of Oxford, Elgin and Middlesex.

FALSE IMPRESSION: Robert Metz, leader of the Freedom Party, charges the union is giving the false impression that quality education and higher taxes go hand in hand.

"With its powerful influence and millions of dollars in union dues at its disposal, the teachers' union just may win its war against the taxpayers of Ontario," Metz says.

The union has outlined plans to oppose trustee candidates in November's municipal elections who are members of Taxpayers Coalition Ontario Inc. Coalition president George Lansens says he is indifferent to the involvement of the Freedom Party in the battle with teachers. "I will not affiliate myself with any political party or populist movement."

Metz says his party won't field its own candidates for boards of education but that individuals, including himself, might consider running.

PARENT POWER: He says teachers salaries are not the main issue in the party's confrontation with the union, but the manner in which the education system functions. He says more control should be given to the users of the system, with parents given more choice about how their dollars are spent.

He says he agrees with the teacher's union that financial responsibility should be assumed by the province, not the local property tax base, of which about half goes to education.

Federation president Liz Barkley said in Toronto she had never heard of the Freedom Party until recently and its views are "diametrically opposed to what we are doing."

Barkley says it is simplistic of coalition members to say the solution to high taxes is to cut spending. She says an overhaul of the entire tax structure is needed, federally, provincially, and municipally, to sort out range of societal ills from medicare to pensions.

She says locals of the union will be alerted to deal with tax coalition candidates the best way they see fit. "These people are, from my point of view, not people who build a community, but destroy."

THE KEY PLAYERS

  • Taxpayers Coalition Ontario Inc : Advocates lower property taxes through spending cuts and an end to duplication of government services. It has 58 chapters representing about 25,000 homeowners.

  • Freedom Party of Ontario : A provincially registered political party which is also registered in 13 ridings. It has more than 500 active members. Its platform is less government involvement in people's lives, reduced taxes and more consumer choice in the services government provides, especially education.

  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation :A union representing about 40,000 teachers in public high schools.




    Contact FP
    Freedom Flyer Newsletter

    e-mail

    Page last updated on April 28, 2002

    FP logo (small)