The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Purchase tickets online at www.battalionhockey.com or Battalion Headquarters Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone (905) 874-2393 The Smile Cookies are back, and theyre happier than ever. This week, buy a special chocolate chip Smile Cookie for just $1.00 each, and well donate entire proceeds to St. John Ambulance. All it takes is a smile to show you care. Tim Hortons, 2007 Thank you to all who contributed & attended Captain Kirks Concert & This event was a HUGE SUCCESS A special thank you to all of the following sponsors: Abee Coring Annette Iounno Barber Towne Pub Bell Mobility Boston Pizza Bracky's Tap and Grill C&S Printing CD Plus (E-One) Chris Vagg Daniel Biagioni & Luke Jones Dark Side Tattoos Elite Door Fendley's Woodworking Fred's Woodworking Gee Tees Hillsburgh Georgetown Canadian Tire Georgetown Country Depot Hyland's on Park JACK FM Jacox Harley Davidson Jennie Harlow Johnson Associates Kennedy's Koch Entertainment Larry Melton Matt and Jenn Edwards Merdeka Partner Research.ca Paul McTrash Peace Arch Home Ent. Inc. (kaBOOM! Ent.) Pennzoil Quaker State Robyn and Garth Rothwell Construction Russell Metals Shoeless Joes Shoppers Drug Mart Sideshow Tattoo Sobey's Acton Steve and Lisa MacGregor Tan-it Salon The Brotherhood The Captain's Crew The Independent & Free Press The Rose Garland Band The Skinny Leonard Band Thursty T's Leathers Trendz Salon Vanderburgh's Flowers Whalen Custom Cycle www.independentont.com Y108 CJXY FM 8 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, October 3, 2007 Dear editor, Wake up Ontario! Ignoring the fair funding in education issue will not make it go away. One has to wonder why Progressive Conservative leader John Tory put himself and his party at risk. Is John Tory so religious? I dont think so. However, his plan will actually enhance future public education funding. Not all education funding comes from provin- cial and municipal taxes. The federal government also supports education through equalization payments, provided that the province (Ontario) adheres to federal guidelines. For years Ontario premiers have complained about this lack of funding from the feds, but has Ontario really met the education criteria required for proper fund- ing? The United Nations has cited Canada (Ontario) for violating an agreement Canada so willingly signed, along with several other coun- tries. This agreement stated Canada would pro- vide equality in all areas of life to children regard- less of race, gender, religion, etc. When Ontario fully funded only Catholic edu- cation, Canada was cited. This citation puts Canada in an awkward position at UN talks regarding human rights abuses. Countries in vio- lation can easily accuse Canada of its own hypocrisy. This reduces our participation and our federal government is embarrassed international- ly. Once can only speculate if the federal govern- ment reminds Ontario of this embarrassment when discussing equalization payments for the province. Only the Green, PC and Family Coalition par- ties have stated a willingness to reverse this cita- tion. This shows true leadership and security. However, the Green Partys idea to scrap all reli- gious funding is a constitutional nightmare. The creators of the 1867 constitutional agreement purely intended to protect the rights and free- doms of minorities; a Canadian identity. Therefore, in order to secure and enhance future public education, funding must be extend- ed to all religious schools. Joan Hofland, Limehouse Letters to the editor Extend funding to all schools Dear editor, I am writing in regard to funding for faith- based schools and in response to the Sept. 26 let- ter from Wm. Pomeroy. Mr. Pomeroy is concerned about recent immi- grants wanting to promote their personal beliefs on us all. But that is not the goal of faith-based schools. Rather, because we live in a democratic society, we are allowed the freedom of teaching our children according to our beliefs. In fact, the public school system has a faith of its own which is taught to the students in its system. In regards to creation and evolution, neither one has been proven scientifically. Evolution is a theory, not a fact. Both require faith to believe. In addition, according to the Sept. 26 Independent & Free Press article,Candidates square off in tame affair, John Tory has said, only schools that conformed to strict curriculum guidelines and professional standards would qualify for govern- ment funding. (Maybe the government should be looking into how evolution is being taught in the public school system.) Mr. Pomeroy is concerned that faith-based schools will force their religious beliefs on us all. However, no one is forced to go to a faith- based school. Parents who place their children in a faith-based school do so because of their per- sonal convictions and beliefs. Funding for faith-based schools is a reality in Alberta. As far as I know public schools have not suffered there. It should be possible for citizens to decide where they want their tax dollars to go in regards to funding education. Why not fund other schools as well? For example: Montessori, sports-based schools, schools that cater to the sci- ences? By doing so more underprivileged children would have access to alternate forms of educa- tion. In a democratic society all people should have equal rights. Faith-based schools are not there to force their religion on anyone. Rather than creat- ing division, funding for schools, other than the status quo, would embrace the tremendous diver- sity that exists in our country. Aviva Rothman-Wielinga, Georgetown Funding faith-based schools embraces diversity