| Show SEPARATE SCIIOOLS rIte Distressing Problem Now Ila cusocil in Canada Ottawa Ont March v41thousft full particulars of the action taken by the Dominion government regarding the Memtoba school question nave been before the public for some days it is only now learned that this action is being fully understood Thei Dominion Do-minion government has done two things it has ordered the provincial authorities to reestablish the separate frchoolg abolished in ISJO and failing compliance by the province the Dominion Do-minion has stated in so mann words that a federal act will be passed for the purpose of attaining this object And it is at this point that the danger of the situation appears Tho pray II1L et > rrave always been jealous of their rights of seifgovernment and an attempt to encroach on these rights I by 1 the passage of a federal law to uj comulsU a provincial object will evoke a vigorous protest in every member of the confederation outside of Quebec This outcry will be especially vigorous in Manitoba and Ontario because a federal law once passed for the purpose of reestablishing separate schools I cannot be repealed by any power short I of that of the imperial parliament in iHngiand Not only this if the separate separ-ate schools are reestablished by federal legislation in Manitoba 4 pre redent will be established which will permit of the Dominion interfering to prevent the Ontario legislature from divesting the separate schools of the province of privileges conferred by the latter body It is because of the far reaching consequence involved that there Is such hostility to the idea of entering the wedge of federal interference inter-ference It is probable that the reestablishing re-establishing of senarate schools will be done by a federal enactment relieving re-lieving Roman Catholic taxpayers in Manitoba from local taxation for public schools and giving Roman Catholic srhool boards power to levy rates on their own people for the maintenance of their own schools Further than this it Is likely that the Dominion government will retain a portion of the subsidy payable by the dominion to the province under the terms of union and apply this as a supplement to the funds raised by local taxation for separate school purposes Unless the present dominion government govern-ment is defeated before remedial legislation legis-lation and another party is placed in power that will respect provincial rights there will be an upheaval that will strain the bonds of eonf deratlon |
