Public #onted with Greg Cawsey

I would be less agreeable to defunding the CBC, if it got back to its mandate and started telling our stories. Our own Canadian University athletes are one group that deserves some attention from the public broadcaster. The venues, cast and storylines are all ready to go. Greg makes the case why this programming is needed to introduce the next generation to the CBC. 

Maybe it’s social media or mainstream media, but I find myself looking at history and the current situation and seeing things a little differently from my last post.  Either way, I have always known how a friend and ally is supposed to act.  Recent actions by the Canadian government shows it can talk it, but certainly does it walk it. As soon as Trudeau Jr. had the opportunity to distance himself from supporting Israel - he took it. Shameful, but not surprising.

Latest Column on Issue...

Protests in support of Palestine are growing here at home and across the world. This is not surprising when seeing images of war and brutality coming out of Gaza. There has also been a call for a ceasefire in the region getting louder as well. I would support this call, if I thought it meant the hostages would be freed and Hamas would also stop its attacks. Our own Liberal government does not believe that would happen, so you can pray or shout for it, but any type of peace in Gaza is not happening anytime soon. 

This current conflict and the accompanying protests also serve as examples to why what JFK referred to as "genuine peace," remains elusive.

Too many Palestinian supporters do not believe in the right for Israel to exist. Their numbers are too great and their voices are too loud to ignore. Even in places miles away from the Mideast, support within protest movements of organizations like Hamas, that seek to destroy Israel, show symbols of hate for all to see. It is for this reason that while I am sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people, I wouldn’t go near a protest and see them as counterproductive. 

On the other side is Israel, a modern, liberal democracy that shares many of the same governing values of Canada, making it a natural ally.  The historical atrocities that the Jewish people have endured, generate rightful sympathy and continued support of protecting a Jewish state. It would however, be wise for Israel however not to test whether that support is unconditional.   

Charges of anti semitism should not follow genuine criticism of the Israeli government and its leader. I, like many, take issue with Netanyahu working with Hamas prior to this conflict to destabilize the region. I find his motives duplicit and any desire for genuine peace dubious. If a movement toward peace can be renewed, Netanyahu and those like him must go.  

I also appreciate the anger from Palestine as more Israeli settlers further entrench themselves on disputed territory. Israel is not blameless in causing anger and resentment.  This in no way condones or justifies a brutal attack. The ambush by Hamas was deliberately planned to kill and kidnap as many Jewish people as possible. There was no collateral damage in this hateful act. 

What this attack should not kill is the desire for that genuine peace. But it will not happen until all the bad actors leave the stage. Any talk of a Palestinian state bordering Israel will be just that, talk, until Hamas is gone. To make that happen Israelis must gain the moral high ground by not taking the ground of others. Israeli leadership can never legitimize terrorists by trying to make those wanting peace illegitimate. On the other side, Palestinians must realize that recognition of statehood will never be born from hate.

Calling for genuine peace may seem hopeless right now, but I know...

justcaws.ca

Protests in support of Palestine are growing here at home and across the world. This is not surprising when seeing images of war and brutality coming out of Gaza. There has also been a call for a ceasefire in the region getting louder as well. I would support this call, if I thought it meant the hostages would be freed and Hamas would also stop its attacks. Our own Liberal government does not believe that would happen, so you can pray or shout for it, but any type of peace in Gaza is not happening anytime soon. 

 This current conflict and the accompanying protests also serve as examples to why what JFK referred to as "genuine peace," remains elusive.

 Too many Palestinian supporters do not believe in the right for Israel to exist. Their numbers are too great and their voices are too loud to ignore. Even in places miles away from the Mideast, support within protest movements of organizations like Hamas, that seek to destroy Israel, show symbols of hate for all to see. It is for this reason that while I am sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people, I wouldn’t go near a protest and see them as counterproductive. 

On the other side is Israel, a modern, liberal democracy that shares many of the same governing values of Canada, making it a natural ally.  The historical atrocities that the Jewish people have endured, generate rightful sympathy and continued support of protecting a Jewish state. It would however, be wise for Israel however not to test whether that support is unconditional.   

Charges of anti semitism should not follow genuine criticism of the Israeli government and its leader. I, like many, take issue with Netanyahu working with Hamas prior to this conflict to destabilize the region. I find his motives duplicit and any desire for genuine peace dubious. If a movement toward peace can be renewed, Netanyahu and those like him must go.  

I also appreciate the anger from Palestine as more Israeli settlers further entrench themselves on disputed territory. Israel is not blameless in causing anger and resentment.  This in no way condones or justifies a brutal attack. The ambush by Hamas was deliberately planned to kill and kidnap as many Jewish people as possible. There was no collateral damage in this hateful act. 

What this attack should not kill is the desire for that genuine peace. But it will not happen until all the bad actors leave the stage. Any talk of a Palestinian state bordering Israel will be just that, talk, until Hamas is gone. To make that happen Israelis must gain the moral high ground by not taking the ground of others. Israeli leadership can never legitimize terrorists by trying to make those wanting peace illegitimate. On the other side, Palestinians must realize that recognition of statehood will never be born from hate.

Calling for genuine peace may seem hopeless right now, but I know...

Read more at justcaws.ca

So here we go again. More self - inflicted pain felt most by the working poor. Right on the heels of the pandemic where the less important delivered food to the too important to go out crowd. Now we have record food and gas prices.  

I am not going debate the merits of our covid lockdown response here - but it is rather clear suffering was not evenly felt. The line "we are all in this together" - became a punchline rather than a rallying cry.  Covid was the threat and we were told to shut down.  Now the climate crisis is back on the front burner and it’s the existential threat we must extinguish. Yet again, we are asking the working poor to do most of the heavy lifting. 

To combat climate change progressive leaning... read the rest at https://www.justcaws.ca/2022/06/why-are-gas-prices-so-high.html

I find stalemates frustrating at the best of times. Arm wrestles and tugs of war that don’t end quickly seem to go on forever.  

Today Greg warns of the coming crisis in many parts of the province as more homes will soon mean we need more schools. In fact, the crisis is already here but attention has been on other things. Speaking of which Greg addresses Ted’s question on the protests and whether Greg will be wearing an Orange shirt tomorrow - he will - along with a Canadian Flag pin. Listen to let him explain why. 

In a system that is an accountability wasteland, the EQAO is the report card for the publc system. Today discuss why despite its expense and challenges the EQAO not only should remain, but should expand to a graduation assessment tool. 

Today examine the merits of the binding arbitration process being endorsed by the secondary union provincial leadership. See where this all goes, but no news is usually good news.   

Former teacher union District VP and nomination candidate for the Progressive Conservatives, Greg shares his unique perspective on the current #onted dispute.

Dark clouds are hovering over Ontario public education, right now. Whether you blame the government or the unions it doesn’t matter, schools are closed – again, and parents are fed up. This will be a pivotal week in determining if the Ford government cares about public education or is purposely creating havoc in the system to undermine it in the eyes of Ontarians.

As for the education unions, from my experience at the negotiation table – I know they don’t care about public education – it’s not their job.  They work to get their due paying members the best compensation deal they can. Since their union dues are a percentage of gross pay – it is in the union’s self-interest to get their member pay raises. I don’t begrudge them for that, but they spew a whole of bunch B.S. when they say, “we are doing this for the kids”.

If you believe the government is making public education, stronger by finally ending the constant work stoppages and disruption – then this the end justifies the means approach better happen quickly. If that means contracting out cleaning services and fining the union to the max – do it and bring an end to the work stoppage. Ford started down this road by imposing a contract – he had to anticipate a major push back would come.

Union supporters like to make the charge that Ford Nation wants to dismantle public education and push further privatization. If that is proven to be the case, then what good comes for standing by and letting that happen. Go back to work and push the feds to act and make our charter mean something again.

Public education does need a hero right now – we will find out soon who that may be.