RATHER CONSOLING

I have sent a cheque to support Freedom Party, and to ensure that I continue to receive Consent and the Freedom Flyer.

I always find these publications VERY thought-provoking and rather consoling, (bet that's a first!), i.e., my thinking is not so odd after all. I've especially enjoyed:

(1) Joe Armstrong's article, "Legitimize Dissent! --- Or Lose the Federation." He has made what has become so complex and confusing and issue --- so simple!

(2) hearing of Robert Vaughan's work with the London Board of Education. Would he be interested in moving to Peel and running for trustee here? We need him! Please pass on my congratulations to him for having the board recognize phonics as a fundamental component of reading instruction, NOT just another reading "clue". Again, I'm consoled.

(3) Lucky London to have the mayor they do, standing up to the Human Rights Commission!!!

You might be interested to know that I've gotten NOWHERE with the PCs regarding fairness in child care in Ontario. The final straw was Eves' announcement in the May ('97) budget on the new Ontario child care tax credit. This credit is ONLY for RECEIPTED care. Again, at-home parents are excluded. The real pinch is that the same receipt can be used for the Ontario tax credit AND the federal Child Care expense deduction --- a double whammy --- it goes from bad to worse! Maybe Robert Vaughan could help out on this issue? Please advise.

Sorry this letter is rather messy. My son was home ill today and it's 10:55pm; I'm running out of steam and not very coherent. But at least I wrote my thoughts to you.

- Cheryl Stewart, BOLTON Ontario, January 8, 1998

We are honored that someone would take the time, at the end of an obviously stressful day, to write Freedom Party about an array of issues that are of personal concern to them. Your thoughts on these varied issues have been MOST coherently laid out for our consideration, and we can assure you that they reflect the feelings of many people. You are certainly not alone, and your thinking is not in the least bit 'odd'.

In fact, quite the opposite. We think it's odd that our public 'education' system managed to drop phonics as a reading fundamental in the first place.We think it's odd that Canada's political leadership, in framing a vision for the future of Canada, failed to include freedom as part of that vision. We think it's odd that 'Human Rights' tribunals can intimidate and fine elected political officials for taking a stand on an issue.

We think it's odd that parents who provide their own day care cannot take into consideration, for tax purposes, the economic costs associated with their choice, while parents who use government subsidized day care facilities get to claim all the tax benefits.

We'll certainly pass your message on to Robert Vaughan for his input and advice. But in addition to that, by taking the time to write us, your comments will be seen by many others who are similarly thinking about the future of their country, and who feel 'odd' that no one else seems concerned.

Our task now is to get as many of these people as possible to support those groups and individuals who are working hardest to reverse these 'odd' trends. It's a pretty simple rule: the more support groups like Freedom Party get from those who share our concerns, the more impact we'll continue to have in the political marketplace.

And the more thought-provoking and consoling our newsletters will get. [rm]