KITCHENER-WATERLOO – Green Party of Ontario candidate Dr. Stacey Danckert was joined by Leader Mike Schreiner in Kitchener to outline the Green Party’s plan to strengthen Ontario’s school system by ending wasteful duplication in the public and Catholic boards.
“With the issue of school cuts dominating these by-elections, the choice for voters is clear,” says Schreiner. “Prioritize high-quality education for all children or protect the interests that want special funding for one religion at the exclusion of all others. Only the Green Party will fight to improve our children’s education with a fair and equitable school system.”
At the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) general meeting in Toronto yesterday members voted in favour of a motion that would see public funding of public education in Ontario be limited to secular [ non-religious-based CP ] schools. Only the GPO is calling for a public commission to study merging the Catholic and public systems.
Ontario is the only province that provides full public funding for a single faith while providing no funding for other faith-based schools. As a result the UN Human Rights Committee has censured Canada in 1999 and 2005 for the discrimination in Ontario’s school system. “McGuinty has repeatedly slammed the door on talking about this issue. Instead he continues to ram the Liberals’ political agenda down the throats of parents and teachers,” continued Schreiner. “Ourchildren deserve a fair and equitable system regardless of their faith or sexual orientation.”
Recently Catholic Schools have come under fire for discouraging Gay Straight Alliances, student-run clubs that promote tolerance for diversity. “The McGuinty Liberals are quick to place the burden on teachers and have failed to recognize how wasteful our system is,” added Danckert.
A study prepared by William J. Phillips, Past-President of The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods of Ontario Inc. estimates savings from merging the school boards of $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion per year. “It’s time to demand a better solution for our children and this province’s future,” added Dancket. “As your first Green MPP in Queen’s Park I will not let the other parties evade this issue any longer.” For the Silo by Green Party of Ontario PO Box 1132 Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
PRESS RELEASE
QUEEN’S PARK – Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner is
committed to holding the government accountable for its focus on
scoring short-term political points, rather than seeking long-term
solutions. The GPO is urging the government to act on three important
issues during this session.
FAIR SCHOOLS
The GPO is challenging the McGuinty government to stop attacking
teachers and to work with teachers to find savings. Instead of closing
the door to talks about modernizing Ontario’s school system, the
government should take a serious look at the advantages of moving to
one school board.
“McGuinty should be in a room with teachers, looking for solutions to
the crisis in our educational system, rather than pushing through his
political agenda,” says GPO Leader Mike Schreiner. “This undemocratic
attack on Ontario’s educational staff will not be the last, unless we
start a discussion on ending wasteful duplication in our current
school system.”
Studies from independent organizations show Ontario could save $1.3
to $1.6 billion by moving towards a single English and French public
school board.
ONTARIANS FIRST
Instead of politically motivated election promises, the GPO supports
policies and investments that will increase efficiency, spur
innovation, and lead to sustainability for Ontario. Schreiner cited
the cancellation of the Mississauga gas plant, the off shore wind
moratorium and the new Highway 7 announcement in Kitchener-Waterloo as
costly, unplanned examples of short-term thinking that puts political
party interest ahead of good public policy.
“I am committed to providing principled, positive and practical
solutions and practicing a new kind of politics that moves beyond
cynical political games,” says Schreiner. “Transportation and
infrastructure initiatives like new highways need careful planning and
shouldn’t be part of an election-promises goodie bag.”
LOVE IT PROTECT IT
The GPO will continue it efforts to protect Ontario’s most treasured
natural assets. The GPO is currently petitioning the government to
make Wolf Lake in Temagami a provincial park, is fighting to protect
prime farmland and clean water from quarries, and is pushing for a
sustainable development plan that respects First Nation’s rights in
the Ring of Fire.
“The GPO will fight to protect our valuable natural assets,” pledges
Schreiner. “We raised the alarm about threats to environmental
protections in the budget and will continue to push forward policies
that enrich our natural assets.” Rebecca H
Green Party of Ontario
PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada
This afternoon, Education Minister Laurel Broten announced that Ontario intends to introduce legislation that, if passed, would put students and families first by ensuring education funding stays in the classroom and the next two school years are free from labour disruptions.
Ontario intends to introduce legislation that, if passed, would put students and families first by ensuring education funding stays in the classroom and the next two school years are free from labour disruptions.
The Putting Students First Act, if passed, would require that school boards and local bargaining units of teachers and support staff accept agreements consistent with the government’s fiscal and policy priorities. These priorities include maintaining investments in full-day kindergarten, keeping class sizes small, and protecting funds earmarked for the classroom.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) is an example of such an agreement. The legislation, if passed, would take effect Sept. 1 and therefore would also prevent automatic pay increases for teachers if current contracts roll over as scheduled on Aug. 31.
It would be required, under the proposed act, that any increases paid to teachers and staff before the legislation passes be paid back. The proposed legislation, if passed, would save the province $250 million in 2012-13, growing to $540 million in 2013-14. In addition, the province would achieve one-time savings of $1.4 billion with the elimination of banked sick days. These savings would be found while continuing to support student achievement and protect full-day kindergarten, smaller class sizes, and 20,000 teaching and support staff jobs.
Eliminating Ontario’s deficit is the single most important step toward growing the economy, protecting and creating jobs, and preserving significant gains made in education. The McGuinty government remains committed to working with all of its partners in education to eliminate the deficit while continuing to protect the classroom experience.
“Since February, when talks first began, we have been firm but fair; focused but flexible and unwavering in our commitment to reach labour agreements that protect the gains we have made in education. By introducing legislation, we are taking an important step toward giving certainty to students and families that school will start on time and uninterrupted.” – Laurel Broten, Minister of Education
• The government has already signed agreements with OECTA and the Association des Enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens , which together represent more than half of Ontario’s school boards and 55,000 teachers.
• The government has also signed an agreement with the Association of Professional Student Services Personnel.
• The proposed legislation also covers employees who do not bargain collectively, including principals, vice-principals and school board staff.
• If existing contracts were to automatically roll over on Sept. 1, the cost of teachers moving up the grid and for continuing the existing retirement gratuity and sick leave provisions would be $473 million.
• Learn more about the Putting Students First Act.
• Read here for a timeline about ongoing labour discussions.