I got this fresh in the (e)post today. An email from the PROGRESSIVE Conservative campaign titled: “Tory Pledges Free Vote on Faith-Based School Funding” It’s almost Dionesque:

There has been a lot of discussion in the media and by the other political parties about bringing faith-based schools into the public education system. The John Tory campaign wanted to make sure you were aware of additional details John Tory provided today on this issue as part of his speech to the Economic Club of Toronto.In John’s own words, “If I have the privilege of serving as Premier, I will strike a commission, consult with the public, create pilot projects, and place a bill before the [Ontario] Legislature. But that bill will only proceed with the support of the people, through their elected representatives. MPPs will be allowed a free vote, so they are at liberty to vote their conscience and represent the wishes of their constituents. In this significant way, the public can be more involved in the decision making.”

To be clear:

• John Tory is allowing all of his MPPs to have a free vote in the Legislature on this issue when it comes before them in two – three years.
• This means that they will all be able to vote based on their own conscience and the wishes of their constituents.
• In the meantime, over the next year or so, a commission to study the issue will be conducted.
• Then, appropriate pilot projects will be conducted.
• Then, a committee of the Legislature will review and study the work of the commission.
• And, after that two – three year process, members of the Legislature will have a free vote so they can reflect the wishes of their constituents.
• John Tory will vote for it, but, PC MPPs will be free to vote as they see fit

John Tory has been open and honest about his views and the motivation behind them. He has been clear today, before the election, that there will be a free vote for MPPs and he has always had the same position in public as he has had in private on this issue.

For the record, Cathy and I will be putting a child into that education system soon. An autistic child. There is not enough support for autism in Ontario - another broken promise from McGuinty. I would be fine if Tory were offering real school choice, but a Madrassa or a Catholic school isn’t much of a choice for us.