LONDON (January 26 & March 8, 1996) - Fp members Robert Vaughan and Craig
Stevens each took a turn to join forces with Scarborough West MPP Jim Brown in
defending the Harris government's cuts in education grants to municipalities.
Brown is a member of the government's Caucus Advisory Committee On Education.
Appearing on BBS TV's Inquiry program, they debated trustees, teachers, and
union representatives who decried the 3% cuts as being destructive to the
education system.
On the first debate in January, Vaughan (who is also trustee on London's Board
of Education) and Brown squared off with Heather Wice, chairperson of the
London Board of Education's Budget Committee, and with Randall Lobb, a Goderich
high-school teacher. On the second debate, Stevens (who is also vice-chair of
the London-Middlesex Taxpayers' Coalition) and Brown entered into a lively
debate with Bill Brock, Chairperson of the London Board of Education, and with
Rod Heikkila, president of the Elgin branch of the Ontario Secondary School
Teachers' Federation (OSSTF).
Video copies of both debates are available to those interested. Please contact
Freedom Party for details.
