The issue of funding religious schools is contentious enough without mentioning "creationism,'' said David Docherty, dean of arts at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.


That stirs up fears Ontario is moving toward the American model, where "creationism is going to get equal time with evolution,'' he said.

If Docherty is quoted correctly there seems so far little evidence that creationism is going to get equal time with evolution anytime soon. So far it hasn't done so anywhere. The US consitution specifically rejects the teaching of creationism. The religious right has tried to get around this by supporting the teaching of intelligent design but even this has not had much success as yet. I will post an article on the US situation.



DID YOU SAY CREATIONISM?

CANADIAN PRESS
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, poised to hit the campaign trail on Monday, is already facing criticism for his remarks on teaching creationism in schools.
Conservative leader finds hot-button issue can be too hot
Canadian Press

TORONTO

Burned by his rekindling of the emotionally charged battle between creationism and evolution, Ontario's Progressive Conservative leader anxiously tried to deflect some of the attention yesterday as he urged voters not to judge him solely on the party's promise to fund faith-based schools.

John Tory, poised to hit the provincial campaign trail for the first time Monday, said he believes in evolution and admitted he needs to "choose his words carefully'' when talking about such a controversial issue on the eve of an election.

"In the course of an election campaign, you have to have an open, honest discussion about these kinds of issues and you always have to choose your language with precision,'' Tory said when asked if he regretted musing about teaching creationism in public religious schools.

"I understand that this issue is controversial. . . . But it doesn't mean that you shouldn't discuss it or try to sweep it under the carpet.''

Ontario voters go the polls Oct. 10.

Tory opened a political Pandora's box Wednesday when he said he didn't see why creationism couldn't be taught in public religious schools on top of evolution and "other theories.''

He later clarified the remarks by insisting the subject would be restricted to religion class and wouldn't get the same emphasis as evolution, which is taught in the science lab.

Yesterday, Tory said his proposal to fund faith-based schools that teach the Ontario curriculum, hire accredited teachers and administer standardized tests shouldn't be the defining issue in the minds of voters.

"It's a part of our platform,'' he said following at an event in a Toronto suburb. "It represents a quarter of a page in a 52-page document. . . . The education issue is one issue.''

Meanwhile, Liberal rival Dalton McGuinty was staking out his own safe territory on the thorny topic.

"Creationism is not a science,'' the incumbent premier said. "Evolution is a science. When we're teaching science in our public schools, we should be teaching evolution.''

By wading headfirst into the highly charged issue of creationism in class, Tory mystified political observers and became the latest in a line of politicians to learn the hard way how Canadians react when the thorny issue of religion rears its head during election season.

Former federal Conservative leader Stockwell Day, a devout fundamentalist Christian, was excoriated during the 2000 election campaign for stating his belief that dinosaurs and people walked the Earth together.

It made for a Liberal field day. One strategist brandished a Barney doll as he declared, "This was the only dinosaur ever to be on Earth with humans.''

The issue of funding religious schools is contentious enough without mentioning "creationism,'' said David Docherty, dean of arts at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.

That stirs up fears Ontario is moving toward the American model, where "creationism is going to get equal time with evolution,'' he said.

If Tory was trying to differentiate himself from McGuinty, "he's chosen an unwise way to do it,'' Docherty said.

"Mr. Tory is a very experienced politician. He learned at the feet of the master, (former Ontario premier) Bill Davis. But this is something Bill Davis never would have done.''

Davis extended full funding to Ontario Catholic schools in the mid-1980s.