Freedom Flyer July 1995 Cover

Freedom Flyer 28

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

July 1995




Article electronically reproduced from:

Our Community News, St. Thomas

May, 1995


Monteith: controversial and provocative

BY NANCY SHEPPARD

Ray Monteith's entry into politics was an accident waiting to happen, he says.

"I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for the Freedom Party accidentally and called. Once I heard what they were about, I knew it was for me. I thought this party made sense," he says with a boisterous laugh.

Now running in his third provincial campaign as a Freedom Party candidate, Monteith is becoming well known in Elgin for his outspokenness, and at times outrageous comments. He says he isn't offended to be considered "comic relief" rather than a legitimate candidate while in the throes of a provincial political campaign. He feels in time, more and more people will see past his personality and discover the Freedom Party's platform.

Monteith, who will celebrate his 75th birthday this summer, talked about some of the party's platforms with this reporter in his home just outside of St. Thomas's city limits.

The Freedom Party was founded in 1984 on the principle that every individual, in the peaceful pursuit of personal fulfilment, has an absolute right to his or her own life, liberty, and property. It believes the purpose of government is to protect individual freedom of choice, not to restrict it, says the party literature.

Monteith supports the party's stance on education taxes, which states each taxpayer should be able to direct taxes to the school(s) of their choice. The Freedom Party also would repeal employment equity laws, labor legislation making it illegal to hire replacement workers during strikes, and official bilingualism.

"We'd end grants and funding for special interest groups and cut spending. The other parties have nothing to offer but debt. We should be ashamed of ourselves to have the debt we have. People have to pinch their pennies and live more carefully," says Monteith.

He believes he's a better choice than Independent candidate, Peter North, because he has a party to back him and says he's prepared to win, should that happen. He acknowledges, however, that it's unlikely.

"If I did ... boy, I would really go to town. I want to be a watchdog and I'd get busy!"

Monteith senses a general attitude of frustration among voters, some of whom have told Monteith they're "sick of the three (main) parties."

"The NDP walk around saying they did all these things for us, but they did it all on credit."

Monteith sees himself as a hardworker, personable and a good listener and says he is encouraged by the responses he's been getting, particularly since the all candidates meeting hosted by Chamber of Commerce and London-St. Thomas Real Estate Board.

His non-conventional outlook on life and sometimes controversial comments were considered highlights of the event by many. An example would be his belief that television is the way of the future for education.

"I think we should be using TV to teach children. They'd learn more off a TV than some teachers and let's face it, we can't afford more teachers. This way one teacher could teach the whole province!"

Controversial, yes. Amusing, certainly.

But his comments are often provocative too.




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