The man behind a petition against a government grant going to Collingwood’s private school explaining why he’s against it.
Lorne Kenny things there were several reasons why Pretty River Academy was awarded the grant to improve its soccer fields.
That grant is half a million dollars, and construction is slated to start in the next few weeks.
He says the town made 2 applications for grants, but wasn’t awarded any because they did a “crummy” job on both of them.
One application didn’t qualify, and the other didn’t have all the necessary approvals.
Kenny says the YMCA also made an application, and it was very good, but they also didn’t get funding.
He says taxpayer money should be going to things that are collectively owned by the taxpayers through the municipal, provincial, or federal government, or a community oriented organization like the YMCA.
But Kenny says a private school doesn’t fit into either category.
He says the school doesn’t pay federal, provincial, or municipal taxes, and the parents who pay taxes are supporting the same things everyone else support with their taxes, and it’s their choice to send their kids to a private school as opposed to a public school.
Kenny also puts some blame on Simcoe Grey MP Helena Guergis, who he says was the last line of defence for taxpayers.
He says it was irresponsible of Guergis to take political credit for the money going to Pretty River Academy, and he hasn’t heard anything from her yet either.
Kenny says there are more than 600 names on the petition against the funding so far, and says Simcoe Grey MPP Jim Wilson has asked question in the Provincial Legislature about why a private school qualified for grants.
He says Collingwood is negotiating a public use agreement for the fields with the school, and they will be there when the issue comes before council.
Kenny doesn’t know where things will go from here.
And he says those who have signed the petition aren’t’ the government, but that he knows the politicians pushing the grant will pay a price.