For the record, the writer of this opinion piece had visited the school a number of times and stated in a published article that Jim Pellegrini had a special way with children. Toronto Sun coverage notwithstanding, letters and pre-paid tuition attest to the many parents delighted with the teaching style of St. James Academy. The writer, to this day, believes that Pellegrini is an excellent teacher. Although TFP does not hold cheque kiting as an honest practice, it can be argued that Pellegrini is not the only owner of a business who indulges in the practice. TFP strongly believes in the principle that no matter what the charges or allegations, Jim Pellegrini deserves a fair trial.
Newspapers use the word 'alleged' before the accused has been found guilty in a court of law.
In this case, the word alleged did not protect Jim Pellegrini from being tried in public by Toronto Sun writers. Perhaps someone in the Education Ministry, or even better, someone in the Finance Ministry, since that's where the hare-brained idea to use public funds for private schools apparently originated. Rather, it's that the Tories, having now made the public funding of private schools the law of the land, have done it in the worst possible way. On the day of his arrest, Pellegrini was shown sitting handcuffed in the back of a police cruise in a page two Sun photo. The pension fund owns shares in all of the banks.