Schools in Newfoundland.

St. John's--Premier Brian Tobin has reduced the 27 Newfoundland school boards to ten in order to begin the abolition of parents' rights and the denominational schools system, following approval by the Newfoundland Legislature on July 25. The measure and the approval were both unconstitutional because the issue was still before the Senate in Ottawa. But Tobin is in a hurry and can't be bothered about such niceties.

That's just fine with Globe and Mail columnist Robert Sheppard, who has argued before in favour of abolishing denominational schools (e.g., June 3, '96). "Tobin has done what he must," he wrote. "What does he (Tobin) need musty old senators for anyway?" After all, the people already voted to do away with the "hodgepodge denominational system."

What's more, he continues, Quebec also may now ask for a constitutional amendment. "Maybe there is still hope," he writes, "for the poor students trapped in a school system from the days when the iron horse was king and beavers were made into hats." (Globe & Mail, Aug. 20).

Catholic educators, however, continue to reject Tobin's fraudulent approach. Paul Fernandes, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Toronto Metropolitan Separate School Board, for example, wrote the Nffd. Premier that he was being "presumptuous" and that "such actions show contempt for the democratic process." "If as your Minister of Education concedes that your power could be successfully challenged in the courts," he continued, "why are you seeking legal confrontation and expenditure of thousands of dollars on legal quarrels instead of seeking harmony and negotiations?" (Letter, Aug. 7).

Meanwhile, in Regina the disgraceful Chretien-Rock role (see C.I., July/August, p.4) was stoutly defended by Agriculature Minister Ralph Goodale, MP for Regina-Wascana. In a letter to the Catholic weekly Prairie Messenger (Aug. 5) Mr. Goodale denied that the amendment was "the thin edge of the wedge" in undermining Catholic schools whether in Newfoundland or Saskatchewan. The whole process had been above board, he stated, open-minded, with full opportunity for everyone to make their case, with a free vote, and due concern on the part of Messrs Chretien, Rock and Tobin--"all practising Catholics like myself"--for careful consideration of everyone involved.

It is amazing how swiftly politicians bury the truth. Only a few weeks earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and 59 other Liberal office holders had been ordered to vote for both the sexual orientation Bill (in May) and the Newfoundland amendment (in June) by the Prime Minister. Four weeks later, he says it was a free vote. It is even more amazing how the Catholic Minister from Regina never once refers to opposition from Catholic Newfoundland parents, teachers, trustees and bishops (one of whom declared that the amendment to Term 17 "will make the total elimination of Catholic schools inevitable."), nor to the opposition from Catholic trustees, parents and bishops elsewhere, expressed in dozens of letters, briefs and oral submissions.