HughFreakingDillon said:

DarthMaeglin said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

Andrew Sheer steps down as Conservative Leader after he was found out to be using party money to pay for his kids' private school tuition. 

BWAHAHAHA. 

the irony of all the "liberals are corrupt" crowd is DELICIOUS

I’m disappointed to read that this is the case, and I support the party asking (even demanding) his resignation, because this is entirely a party matter (which doesn’t make it justified). His hand wasn’t dipping into government coffers. Better to get a new leader in place for the early election we know is coming in a couple years.

It would be nice if some media (CP24, CBC) stopped framing this as partly a result of Scheer’s personal views on some issues (LGBT, abortion) despite his numerous statements during the campaign that a Conservative government wouldn’t change the status quo (it’s starting to feel like groupthink is being pushed on us).

And I don’t think (and hope) I’ve never said only the Liberals are corrupt, lol. It’s unacceptable on any side of the aisle.

no, it wasn't in government coffers, but it's still fraud or theft (depends on how he did it/covered it up). 

no, I have never seen you make that accusation. 

I completely agree that it was wrong (not sure if it rises to the level of criminal charges, devil’s in the details, lol), for now it’s not worth getting relativistic about how wrong, compared to others.

Definitely wearing some egg on my face today though, lol.

As I was typing CP24 mentioned the tuition issue (did they read this thread, lol?).

DarthMaeglin said:

It's starting to sound like the private school assertion is part of a mutiny within the party (which just puts more egg on my face, lol).  I suppose you could crap on him for putting his kids in private school, but that's a personal choice (which has been the main point he was attacked on during the campaign).  Not a fan of groupthink, which is one of the things that attracts me to the Conservatives.  Here's an excerpt from CBC's article:

'Scheer's office confirmed to CBC News that the Conservative Party was paying the difference between the cost of private school tuition for Scheer's kids in Saskatchewan and the higher cost of tuition in Ottawa, along with some other expenses. That cost was described as "minimal" but amounted to thousands of dollars.

His office insisted the tuition matter was not the reason for Scheer's resignation.

"Shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected leader, we had a meeting where I made a standard offer to cover costs associated with moving his family from Regina to Ottawa," Dustin van Vugt, executive director of the Conservative Party, said in a media statement.

"This includes a differential in schooling costs between Regina and Ottawa. All proper procedures were followed and signed off on by the appropriate people."'

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-resigns-1.5393803

well now that we have all the info, honestly, that's a nothingburger. the original thing I read made it sound like he was stealing the money. if he made an arrangement for costs associated with his family as a term of his employment, good for him. we do those agreements all the time where I work, mostly associated with moving costs, mind you, but if the CP knew about it, and it was above board, that amounts to zero. 

DarthMaeglin said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

DarthMaeglin said:

It's starting to sound like the private school assertion is part of a mutiny within the party (which just puts more egg on my face, lol).  I suppose you could crap on him for putting his kids in private school, but that's a personal choice (which has been the main point he was attacked on during the campaign).  Not a fan of groupthink, which is one of the things that attracts me to the Conservatives.  Here's an excerpt from CBC's article:

'Scheer's office confirmed to CBC News that the Conservative Party was paying the difference between the cost of private school tuition for Scheer's kids in Saskatchewan and the higher cost of tuition in Ottawa, along with some other expenses. That cost was described as "minimal" but amounted to thousands of dollars.

His office insisted the tuition matter was not the reason for Scheer's resignation.

"Shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected leader, we had a meeting where I made a standard offer to cover costs associated with moving his family from Regina to Ottawa," Dustin van Vugt, executive director of the Conservative Party, said in a media statement.

"This includes a differential in schooling costs between Regina and Ottawa. All proper procedures were followed and signed off on by the appropriate people."'

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-resigns-1.5393803

well now that we have all the info, honestly, that's a nothingburger. the original thing I read made it sound like he was stealing the money. if he made an arrangement for costs associated with his family as a term of his employment, good for him. we do those agreements all the time where I work, mostly associated with moving costs, mind you, but if the CP knew about it, and it was above board, that amounts to zero. 

Assuming the statement I quoted is true, the worst part now is the optics, as it reinforces the perception of the "Conservative elites."  I will give Trudeau (and Harper) credit for putting their kids in the public system.  Hopefully now that the Scheer question has been addressed the party can put away the knives and focus on presenting a united front with a platform that won't get derailed by a focus on the leader's personal views.

I guess I see it both ways; I understand that it's difficult to swallow that a politician talks about fixing the public school system when they aren't even experiencing it, but isn't it better, if they can afford it, to put their kids in private, and easing the burden, even if just one kid, on the public system?

And politicians at every level need some skin in the game. They need to know intimately how the school system is functioning and where it could be improved. 

Not that the school that Trudeau’s kids go to is in any danger.... 

HughFreakingDillon said:

DarthMaeglin said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

DarthMaeglin said:

It's starting to sound like the private school assertion is part of a mutiny within the party (which just puts more egg on my face, lol).  I suppose you could crap on him for putting his kids in private school, but that's a personal choice (which has been the main point he was attacked on during the campaign).  Not a fan of groupthink, which is one of the things that attracts me to the Conservatives.  Here's an excerpt from CBC's article:

'Scheer's office confirmed to CBC News that the Conservative Party was paying the difference between the cost of private school tuition for Scheer's kids in Saskatchewan and the higher cost of tuition in Ottawa, along with some other expenses. That cost was described as "minimal" but amounted to thousands of dollars.

His office insisted the tuition matter was not the reason for Scheer's resignation.

"Shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected leader, we had a meeting where I made a standard offer to cover costs associated with moving his family from Regina to Ottawa," Dustin van Vugt, executive director of the Conservative Party, said in a media statement.

"This includes a differential in schooling costs between Regina and Ottawa. All proper procedures were followed and signed off on by the appropriate people."'

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-resigns-1.5393803

well now that we have all the info, honestly, that's a nothingburger. the original thing I read made it sound like he was stealing the money. if he made an arrangement for costs associated with his family as a term of his employment, good for him. we do those agreements all the time where I work, mostly associated with moving costs, mind you, but if the CP knew about it, and it was above board, that amounts to zero. 

Assuming the statement I quoted is true, the worst part now is the optics, as it reinforces the perception of the "Conservative elites."  I will give Trudeau (and Harper) credit for putting their kids in the public system.  Hopefully now that the Scheer question has been addressed the party can put away the knives and focus on presenting a united front with a platform that won't get derailed by a focus on the leader's personal views.

I guess I see it both ways; I understand that it's difficult to swallow that a politician talks about fixing the public school system when they aren't even experiencing it, but isn't it better, if they can afford it, to put their kids in private, and easing the burden, even if just one kid, on the public system?

With no kids of my own I'll admit that I'm not well-informed on the actual differences of public versus private schooling.  Having gone through the public French Immersion program myself, I'd prefer a robust public system that actually provides a strong education that focuses on teaching kids how to think (versus what to think).  I know that may fly in the face of my stated Conservativeness, but I try not to be dogmatic, lol. I take it from your response that if you could (maybe you do) you'd have your kids privately educated?

Here in Ontario the test results haven't been very promising on the basics, so maybe the private system is better at this moment.  We're also embroiled in (yet another) dispute with the teachers unions, who have fought every government of every stripe (Liberal, PC and NDP) in my own recollections, and I've observed (in the media) that the teachers seem to be telling the children the union side (based on comments made by the kids themselves).

So again, I'll plead some degree of ignorance on the topic, and look forward to hearing from more parents for perspective.

I'll also add that my sister is a teacher in Ontario's public school system (elementary level) and I've heard some real horror stories about some of the kids behaviour in class, and our system clearly needs some fixes brought in, though some of it may fall to the parents themselves (not maligning anyone here!).

HughFreakingDillon said:

no, we can't afford it, but also no, if we could, I wouldn't want my kids in private. I've heard so many horror stories about private schools and the bullying and the bullshit, it just doesn't seem worth it to me. mind you, i haven't ever been to private school, so my biases are not based on any first hand knowledge. 

my wife went to private all her life, and she really wishes we could "give" that to our kids too. But she went to a very small private school (no bullying she says), but it was catholic (NO THANKS). 

That's a very good point about bullying, there's cases for a bunch of teens working their way through the courts over a hockey team hazing incident at a prestigious Toronto private school.  Not saying it never happens at public school but I can't recall any cases going to court, though this case surfaced via social media and then was investigated.  Sadly, there'll be more I expect (unless this wises up the kids to keep the videos off social media, though teens aren't exactly known for good judgment).

Apparently Trudeau was in Toronto today to meet relatives of the victims in Iran. I can only assume he’ll be making his way to at least Winnipeg and Edmonton as well as every single community that experienced a loss. His itinerary shows private meetings in Ottawa tomorrow.

I think Trudeau is handling the situation just fine.  None of us could handle it any better...he has my support in this difficult time for all us Canadians...

I spoke with a young refugee who described as best as she could the glass flying down from the sky, since she didn't know the word shrapnel. She was very concerned about her Grandma left behind because of there is alot of fire there. I assured her people move away from fires.

Re:TMX appeal
I suppose Americans down water from us will have direct, immediate heightened risks and impacts from this decision.

I took my daughter to the polls and said:  "Should we vote to protect the water, sea animals and our planet, or is it more important that a few white men get a bit more money for a few years?" She didn't realize an opposition TMX vote would be for a man with darker skin than ours who would never win.

Ah well, f@# it. I'm going skiing. Business as usual.