Thursday, May 27, 2021

Ford's Bad Debt



Charles McVety is not getting his university. Martin Regg Cohn writes:

Canada Christian College will not be granted coveted university status, as it hoped and prayed, despite the premier’s best efforts to lay the groundwork. Praise the Lord, not Ford.

Thanks to a panel of outside experts, CCC president “Dr.” Charles McVety has just been denied the political payoff that would have perverted our post-secondary schools. Yet the stench that still wafts over the premier and the preacher cannot so easily be waved off.

Ford tried hard to give McVety his university:

Last October, with the province preoccupied by life and death questions over COVID-19, Ford’s Tories snuck in little-noticed legislation to upgrade McVety’s fledgling bible college into a full-fledged university. But accrediting it to confer B.A. and BSc. degrees would only have discredited, devalued and downgraded our entire post-secondary system.

Nothing could dissuade Ford’s Tories from using their majority to pass the legislation, except for the independent Post-secondary Education Quality Assessment Board. Its expert panel rarely steps in, but it saw through the mirage of McVety’s posturing — pedagogical and theological, ideological and political — and put its foot down last week.

Its full report has not been released, but enough is now known about McVety and his Canada Christian College to render the rejection inevitable: his personal notoriety (public homophobia and Islamophobia); questionable propriety (six-figure seemingly unsecured loans to McVety and his son); and dubious academic credibility (its degrees challenged by a provincial regulator).

Much has been written about Ford seeing the light last year when COVID-19 struck, rising from the political dead and rallying his government to do its best, for better or for worse. But its cynical manoeuvres on CCC last October brought out the worst in the premier, who would sell his soul — and sell out the province — to make good on a bad debt.

Ford owes much of his political success to McVety. McVety's evangelical fold followed him into Ford's tent. But things are not yet finished:

Now that the application has finally been rejected, it must be rescinded from the law books — and not allowed to live on lest it be enacted by cabinet fiat in future. If the government refuses, if it does nothing to correct this legislative limbo, it will be an accomplice to McVety’s future plotting.

And McVety is threatening repercussions:

His public reaction to the rejection was to threaten a lawsuit, demonizing PEQAB’s experts for doing the devil’s work and accusing them of “political corruptness.” Now, the preacher speaks darkly of litigation in lieu of transfiguration — religious and academic.

“I will defend myself now, over time, because I love gay people and I love Muslims,” he protested to the Star’s Kristin Rushowy last week.

In fact, this personal friend of the premier has publicly claimed that, “according to Jesus Christ, we have to love Muslims, but we don’t have to love Islam;” he warns that “Islam is not just a religion, it’s a … mandate for a hostile takeover;” he describes same-sex marriage as “a dagger in the heart of man;” he decries sex education as a “militant homosexual agenda;” and he preaches that “homosexuals prey on children.”

The story continues. . .

Image: Press Progress


18 comments:

Lulymay said...

So, tell me, preacher (alias minister, reverent, doctor) how do you feel about non-homosexuals preying on children??? They are commonly referred to as pedofiles and seem to proliferate around these sanctities of "holiness". But, of course that word isn't on your agenda of who you should "love" and all those lovely conditions that are attached those who should be so lucky as to receive all your precious respect. Bah, humbug, and a pox on all your houses.

p.s. Ever learn that in a true democracy there is a part that talks about SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

Sorry, Owen, but I grew up with a grandmother to liked to spout this same bull but was the most mean spirited woman I ever met.

Anonymous said...

Good lord. The "christian" wackos are out and abroad the land. Of course, Ford is a spent force in many ways, as basically the entire medical establishment told him to take a long walk off a short pier a few weeks ago, and got on with the job of running the pandemic properly with much better results. Unless Doug channels his inner kenney and declares the CNE open, of course. Fraud strikes me as being about as full of the milk of human kindness as the rock in my back yard, so presumably he sold his soul to the Jaysus types to get votes, and the admiration was mutual.

BM

Anonymous said...

There. Is a problem with our Rights and Freedoms Charter. First, Freedom of Religion is the very first freedom. That is how important it was considered to be when instituted upon the Canadian people. Second, how many Canadians have read the Charter. I doubt if Kenney has. Thirdly, this Right needs to be challenged in the Supreme Court of Canadian as to how this first right ought to be interpreted and not how it is preserved at this present time. I see a problem with religion in this country in the near future. Has anyone ever been cut off in conversation by another, by simply quoting the bible. Very awkward is it not? Anyong

Lorne said...

The quotation marks around "Dr." tells us all we need to ,know about this charlatan, Owen.

Owen Gray said...

The word mean-spirited perfectly describes McVety and his flock, Lulymay. They mock the word "Christian."

Anonymous said...

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms lists Freedom of Religion as the First freedom. How important is that? First, this so called freedom requires a challenge in the Supreme Court of Canada as to how this right ought to be interpreted. Religion has become a “free for all” to voice their opinion as to how the world should “run” according to their need for control. Has any one been cut off by another in conversation, using quotes from the Bible....that ends the conversation. Second, Religion has become divisional within groups. All we Canadians have to do is look South. Third, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has not even been read by very many Canadians. Anyong

Owen Gray said...

Ford got the support of the Christian right when he ran for the leadership of his party, BM. It will be interesting to see if they continue to back him.

Owen Gray said...

Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion, Anyong.

Owen Gray said...

Ford's efforts would be much better spent, Lorne, if he saved Laurentian University from going under.

zoombats said...

"Ford's efforts would be much better spent, Lorne, if he saved Laurentian University from going under".
How true Owen. I was going to make your point along with Ford's failure to follow through with initiating a French University. Such a university would have brought many foreign, not just Quebec students with a majour capital influx. Not to mention jobs and perhaps helping Laurentian whereby students could have had a second choice.It boggles the mind at the level of ineptitude.

Owen Gray said...

Ford has had little use for education, zoombats -- as a young man or now.

Owen Gray said...

Unfortunately, Anyong, many of us have not read our foundational documents.

Anonymous said...

Actually
I would prefer to say “freedom from religion”. Sorry about the second comment. It is a mistake. Anyong

e.a.f. said...

the Rev sounds like a wack job to me. best he and his organization do not receive status as a university. any one who preaches what he does, in my opinion, isn't a christian. sounds more like those holy rollers we see so much of in the U.S.A. what ever Ford's connection to the Rev. he might want to sever it. Can't think a lot of those who voted for Ford would be too keen with his connection. Next election other parties could have a field day with ads, the rev, and ford.

Religion has no business in politics and vis a versa. O.K. so I'm opposed to religious schools also., All kids in a province should receive the same education, not some with an extra dose of religion, usually at tax payers' expense.

Owen Gray said...

A lot of people would agree with you, Anyong.

Owen Gray said...

It will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out in the next election, e.a.f.

jrkrideau said...

Ah, poor Mr. McVety. All that work and no return on investment.

As you say Owen, "Ford has had little use for education". I just checked on the wiki and Doug managed to make through 2 2 months at Humber College before dropping out. Well at least he got out of high school, I think.

It is interesting interesting that Jason Kenney never graduated from that school down in San Francisco. I believe he was spending more of his time harassing young women in his role as a anti-abortionist.

Owen Gray said...

It's interesting that both Ford and Kenney are dropouts, jrk. That says something not only about them but about the people who elected them.