July 9, 1996
(Executive Council)

Premier Tobin comments on statement attributed to executive 
director of Catholic Education Council during Senate hearings on Term 17

Premier Brian Tobin has called upon Gerald Fallon of the Catholic Education Council to correct the public record on a statement attributed to Mr. Fallon during the Senate hearings in St John's on Tuesday. "Any suggestion that the government had any kind of deal with the Catholic Church or anyone else with respect to the process of education reform prior to the election is totally false. The consistent position government held was that we would consult all of the affected parties and at the end of the day education reform would proceed. That position was part of our red book platform and it was part of hundreds of campaign speeches by me and other spokespersons."

Premier Tobin says the only commitment government gave to all interested groups on the question of education reform was a commitment to listen and to consult on implementation of the educational reform. "Both in my role as a federal cabinet minister and subsequently as premier, I have worked hard to achieve this amendment because I believe it to be in the best interest of our province. Government has consulted and will continue to consult all interested groups on this important question, however at the end of the day we will act to implement the necessary changes."

Mr. Tobin says Mr. Fallon's statements have only served to muddy the waters at a time when the Senate should be concentrating on the substance of the constitutional amendment before the upper chamber of the parliament of Canada. The premier has called upon the Senate to quickly be called back into session to give speedy approval to the Term 17 amendment at the conclusion of the public hearing process.

Contact: Cathy Coady, 682-9370, or 729-3564.