December 2, 2005 Highlights

1. New Policies to Promote Parental Involvement in Education

On December 1, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy announced new policy and initiatives to promote greater parental involvement in education. The initiatives will be supported by $5.2 million.

The announcement follows the April 2005 report of the Parent Voice in Education Project, a parent advisory group appointed in November 2004. The group’s recommendations are reflected in yesterday’s announcement.

The parental involvement initiatives include:

• A new Parent Advisory Board composed of parents;
• A provincial Parent Engagement Office at the Ministry of Education;
• Regional parent forums with the Minister of Education;
• A school council outreach and grant program for local initiatives to reach parents who find involvement more challenging;
• Parent Involvement committees at each school board with a direct link to the director and school trustees;
• New grants for schools that support parental involvement at the local and regional level;
• New “communication tools”, including parent website portal, e-network, and new parent handbook.

The Parent Advisory Board replaces the Ontario Parent Council, the body of government appointees, which was disbanded in November 2005 when the Parent Voice in Education Project was established. After a transition period, parents will be elected by other parents to the new Parent Advisory Board.

To read the Ministry news release, check this link:
http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2005/12/01/c2238.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html

To read the new Ministry discussion paper on parental involvement, check this link: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/nr/05.12/developing.pdf

2. International Day of Disabled Persons

On December 1, a spokesperson from each party made a statement to commemorate International Day of Disabled Persons which is on December 3. All three parties acknowledged the progress that has been made and the significant issues that remain to be addressed.

NDP MPP Rosario Marchese used the statement as an opportunity to point to the shortcomings of the Liberal government’s record to date. He criticized the government for failing to keep the promise to apply cost of living increases to the Ontario Disability Support Program rates. The rates were increased by 3% in 2004, but frozen in 2005. He criticized the government for failing to fully withdraw the clawback of the National Child Benefit Supplement. The Liberal government withdrew the clawback for the years they have been in government but have left the clawback portion instituted by the previous Tory government. The difference, according to Mr. Marchese amounts to approximately $120 per month for each child.

Liberal MPP Ernie Parsons (Hastings-Prince Edward) pointed to the alarming statistic that, in spite of the excellent work done by the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf located in his riding, the unemployment rate for graduates is 85%. He issued a challenge to industries, businesses, and the government to give these students a chance to demonstrate their skills.

3. Three MPPs Resign to Run Federally

Once the federal election was called, three MPPs declared they were resigning to run as federal candidates. They include: PC MPP John Baird (Ottawa-Nepean), NDP MPP Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth), and PC MPP Jim Flaherty. Of the three, Marilyn Churley may face the greatest challenge since she’s not running in her corresponding federal riding, but in a neighbouring Toronto riding.

Provincial byelections must be called within the next six months to fill the vacancies.

4. Legislative Calendar

The Legislature is set to adjourn for its winter break on December 15, 2005. It will reconvene on February 13, 2006 until March 2 when it will adjourn for a three-week break. The spring session is scheduled to commence on March 27, 2006.

For more information, check the website of the Ontario Legislature: www.ontla.on.ca