Politicians pan Catholic board’s decision to expropriate homes for school

Making way for future church feminists

Fiona Fu and her parents have lived in their modest Willowdale townhouse for 17 years. But on Thursday, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) decided that the family’s townhouse, along with 16 others at Cummer and Bayview Aves., will be expropriated and razed to build a new high school.

This will cost the deficit-ridden school board at least $31 million. And although the move is being decried by municipal and provincial politicians, provincial legislation lets school boards take land without consent, so long as it is in the broader public interest and owners are compensated.

“It’s not about the money — we just want to stay in this home,” a disconcerted Fu said on Friday. “This is completely unjust.”

TCDSB spokesperson John Yan defended the board’s decision.

“We don’t expropriate on whims,” Yan told the Star on Friday. “We have no choice in this particular situation.”  (more...)

Politicians pan Catholic board’s decision to expropriate homes for school

Because she's a girl