They don't return phone calls!
For three previous stories in the past year or so, I have called NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese, hoping that he would share his thoughts about education policy.
He didn't once return a phone call.
Early today, I called the NDP headquarters and told them I wanted to speak to somebody about the party's take on John Tory's plan to fund faith-based schools.
The media people at the HQ told me they would find someone to speak to the issue.
Six hours later: nothing.
How does the NDP expect people to become comfortable with their policies if they never return phone calls to reporters. It would have been nice to have a third viewpoint. It would have been nice to have thoughts from people who have studied education policy but who are not from the Liberals or Progressive Conservatives.
Surely the media people at NDP HQ know how newspapers work. They must know we have deadlines. One would think if they could not track down Marchese, they would find someone who would be willing to speak to me. But they'd rather not speak to The Mississauga News.
It got me thinking about the last time I read anything about the Ontario NDP in the newspaper. I can't remember the last time. I don't think anyone even calls them anymore for comment on important issues. And why would anyone? The NDP is making themselves irrelevant, and not returning calls is adding to that.
It wouldn't be particularly surprising if they simply didn't release a platform this election, and tried to get a couple of more seats in the Legislature by picking up protest votes.
I can picture their new slogan now: "Ontario's NDP: None of the Above."
You know the worst part about the NDP, specifically Rosario Marchese, never returning my phone calls? Marchese is my MPP in Trinity-Spadina!
Guess who's not getting my vote this election.
(UPDATE: I have called back NDP HQ and the media guy has said he'll remind Marchese that I want to speak to him. We'll see how long a reply will take.)
(UPDATE #2: It's 5:50 p.m. Time to go home. Still no call.)
(UPDATE #3: It's 3 p.m. Tuesday. Just started my night shift. No messages from the NDP, 34 hours after asking for comment.)
Comments (4)
Hey Mr. MacBride,
Want some fun?
Next time you meet/talk to any politician. Ask him to define "accountable" for you.
They twist themselves completely inside-out but you won't get an answer.
Won't get if from the bureaucraps either.
Signed,
The (I don't miss) Mississauga Muse
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | July 31, 2007 4:22 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 04:22
Hello Craig,
I'm the NDP MPP candidate in Mississauga-Streetsville Riding.
I'd be delighted to have a conversation with you about my position on education. And I'd like to hear your thoughts as well. You can e-mail me direct at mccabe4mpp@****l.com or call me at 905-***-****.
As to John Tory and his ideas, I look to history. John Tory was one of the architects of the Mike Harris Common Sense Revolution. I can't know how well versed you are on the Harris years, so you'll bear with me, if I provide a little background.
Harris's Education Minister, John Snobelen was the MPP in my riding. He is noted for saying: "We must create a crisis in the education system."
One must ask "Why?" Who benefits and how?
By creating a crisis in the education system, the Tories were able to take control of education taxes. It's what we in the NDP might call the "trickle-up effect."
They also demanded that school boards pass only balanced budgets. Did the Tories balance the budget ... not on your life ... but when democratically elected trustees and school boards resisted the slash and burn policy, their authority was superseded by bean counters and number crunchers, bureaucrats with no roots in the community and no insight on what constitutes quality in education.
At the same time, the Tory funding policy for schools was so shortsighted and misguided that parents are now fundraising for pencils, books and paper, while librarians, music teachers, social workers, educational assistants and other essential services (cleaners) have been either downsized or eliminated entirely.
We are spending a fortune on standardized testing, a billion dollar business, that constrains educators and students to focus on rote learning rather than developing their creative capacities and responding to the innate curiosity that should be nurtured in students. This is a waste of funds that is unrelated to learning. But it effectively enriches corporate interests. This is the real crisis in the education system!!
Teachers were demonized by the Tories along with other "special interest groups" like Welfare Queens, Nurses (obsolete like hula hoops), ESL users, etc. You must ask how one characterizes a special interest group, since it is the nature of all people to belong to groups with which they have an affinity including Harris, Snobelen and John Tory.
Let us recall that the Harris Tories worked fewer days in parliament than any other government before them. John Snobelen spent the last couple of years working his ranch in Montana. He tried to resign , but Harris refused to accept his resignation, so we, the taxpayers, paid the bill for a guy missing in action. I raise this situation, because I believe that it is only the tip of the iceberg -- an example of a sort of moral bankruptcy that is the outcome of years of privilege and entitlement.
As far as educaton policy, check out the web for The Real Brain Drain: The Early Years, a report on education commissioned by Harris and ignored by him. McGuinty hasn't done much better than that ... the NDP are fully in favour of early childhood education programs. That is the key to creativity and innovation.
So fast forward to John Tory and his plan to fund faith-based schools and education for other special interest groups. Recalling that he is one of the architects of the old plan that created a crisis in education, the questions become:
Is this a new crisis in the making? Is this a plan to exploit the original crisis for personal gain? Or is this Tory turning the Common Sense Revolution on its head -- pandering to special interest groups that were demonized in a former life?? Perhaps, the old constituency has had an epiphany about the Common Sense Revolution and the Tories need a new voter base.
All interesting questions for you to look into ... of course, I have my insights and my opinions, but I also have my socialist bias -- the one that looks at society as a collective rather than an atomized group and wants policies that are fair to all people even if they don't pay taxes like "kids" for example.
BTW, the crisis in education has yet to be resolved despite promises to the contrary from the McGuinty Liberals,
As to my own position on the publicly funded education system, you will find it on the One School System Network website under Supporters at
http://www.onessn.org/supporters.html
I'm looking for supporters to help me in my campaign, so there will be someone to answer the phones.
Gail McCabe
Posted by Gail McCabe | August 1, 2007 12:40 AM
Posted on August 1, 2007 00:40
Hi, Craig.
I understand the frustration one may feel when many calls are made to a person, and when many emails are sent to them, yet to no avail. I even know how it feels when one knocks on the door of a house, and no one answers, although you know someone is there. I am canvassing as someone who has been recently nominated to the candidacy for the Provincial elections for the NDP. I am here. I can answer your questions. I am in Mississauga working on the campaign, and you are with the Mississauga News. I can answer your questions. I have been a university student for 12 years lobbying for a better solution regarding high tuition and lack of quality in schools and universities. Education is a platform issue for me as I campaign. Call me at 647-***-****, and we can talk. I am here to answer your questions.
That being said, I want to thank all those Mississauga residents who open the door for me when I come by, and for all the amazing encouraging words, support and feedback I get from them when I share the news of my candidacy.
Yours, Shaila Kibria.
Posted by Shaila Kibria | August 1, 2007 3:38 AM
Posted on August 1, 2007 03:38
Like the $3,000 to $10,000 “One Time Reallocation Allowances” Jane and Finch sends to Peel , the NDP’s biggest handicap is that forums and attendance records funded by United Way for Peel only keep track of what’s mandated under Charitable tax breaks through their strategy advisors .
By the time Brampton’s Mayor, Sue Fennel, connects Criminal Organizations and Schizophrenic Societies are repackaging similar mental illnesses , the prognoses on running regional government like the business are they still wont pay their own hydro bills even if they set up portables to house Brampton's Marijuana Grow Ups.
Posted by Guitar Man | August 14, 2007 11:26 AM
Posted on August 14, 2007 11:26