Independent panel to decide university status, premier says

Christian college president accused of intolerance toward the marginalized

As accusations swirl of cosy relations between the Progressive Conservatives and Charles McVety, Premier Doug Ford insists an independent panel will determine whether the controversial evangelist’s college will get university status.

Ford, who counts McVety as a friend and supporter, said Monday that the Post-secondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB), not the Tory government, will ultimately decide if Canada Christian College is qualified to become a university.

Asked by reporters why “you don’t just cut this McVety thing off,” the premier appeared to be trying to distance himself from an imbroglio that has dogged his Tories for nearly two weeks.

“I believe everyone should have an opportunity to go through the process and they’re going through the process. And let’s find out what happens when PEQAB makes a decision. We’ll make a decision from there,” Ford said in Mississauga.

Privately, some members of his cabinet and caucus have expressed concern about McVety, who has been accused of intolerance toward gays, lesbians, transgender people and Muslims.

As reported by the Star’s Martin Regg Cohn on Saturday, Tory MPPs opposed a legislative change, buried in an omnibus bill, that would help the college.

In the legislature, NDP MPP Taras Natyshak (Essex) mocked Ford for wanting to reward McVety with “his own version of Trump University North.” “I cringe at the thought of what an ethics degree from McVety U would look like,” said Natyshak, noting several senior Tories attended McVety’s 60th birthday party last November and the premier sent a video greeting.

In the legislature, NDP MPP Jill Andrew (St. Paul’s) reminded the Conservatives that McVety “claimed in 2010 that sex education would lead to queer adults preying on children.”

“He said, ‘They want to proselytize your children and mine, our grandchildren and turn them into homosexuals.’ He suggested every queer person is a pedophile,” thundered Andrew, imploring the government to shun “that vile hate.”

Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano emphasized the government does not condone prejudice. “We believe in the rule of law. We believe in the (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms). Perhaps my background, as a lawyer myself, dealt with issues around the charter all the time. Section 7 of the charter, which guarantees fundamental freedoms to us all. Section15 … guaranteeing equality for all,” he said. Romano noted McVety’s college was going through the same “independent review board” that OCAD University and Algoma University did.

But Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said the “secret reward” of university status “is straight out of the American Republican playbook, but rewarding bigotry is almost unheard of in Ontario.”

McVety, for his part, has said “the college, its president, staff and faculty value all individuals, including the LGBTQ community.”