Queen's Park Highlights - March 20, 2008

1. Legislature Reconvenes and Provincial Budget Date Announced

The Ontario Legislature reconvened on March 17, 2008.  The government’s priorities for this year, and perhaps the rest of its second term, will be outlined in the provincial Budget to be presented by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan on March 25. 

Given the economic problems looming south of the border, Ontarians will be listening carefully to the government’s communications for indications regarding economic forecasts and its plans to sustain investments in health, education, the environment, and public infrastructure.  ETFO will be looking for indications the gap in funding for elementary education will be addressed. The Opposition parties have made the loss of manufacturing jobs in the province a priority issue in Question Period this first week; the Budget is expected to address this economic sector as well.

 On March 17, Premier McGuinty pre-empted the Budget by announcing the government will invest $135 million over three years in a dental care plan for low-income families; increase funding for the Student Nutrition Program to $32 million over the next three years; and add $100 million for repairs to existing affordable housing units.  Anti-poverty activists, including ETFO, will be monitoring how the Budget addresses the government’s commitment to implement a poverty reduction strategy that should include additional income supports, new affordable housing, and more affordable childcare.

2. Next Phase of Safe Schools Strategy

Prior to the commencement of the spring legislative session, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced the Safe Schools Action Team would begin its next phase of public consultation and policy development.  The team, headed up by MPP Liz Sandals, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, will be focusing on policies to prevent sexual harassment, homophobia, and gender-based violence in the schools.  In her speech to ETFO’s February Representative Council meeting, the Minister recognized the important work that the federation does in this area.

MPP Leeanna Pendergast, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, has also been assigned to work on the team.  Prior to her election this fall, Ms. Pendergast was a secondary school vice-principal and served as an education consultant to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

3. Healthy Food for Healthy Schools, Act 2008

On March 20, Bill 8, the Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act, 2008, finished its Second Reading debate and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for review.

The government bill gives the Minister of Education the power to regulate the levels of trans fats in food and beverages sold in school cafeterias and vending machines. “Trans fat” will be defined according to the definition adopted by the federal Food and Drugs Act.

The regulations will include a definition of “special event day” that will allow schools to be exempted from the trans fat ban to sell food such pizzas and hot dogs during traditional school fundraising events.

Both Opposition parties support the bill, but the NDP says the government should be doing much more to ban the use of trans fats.  During debate on the bill NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo asked:  “If it it’s not safe in schools, why is it safe to have in our hospitals, day cares, nursing homes, government offices, supermarkets and restaurants?”

4. Elementary School Closures

On March 18, NDP MPP Andrea Horwath pointed to the “17 Catholic schools and dozens of public schools that are on the chopping block´ in her community of Hamilton.  She asked why the government was “sitting on the sidelines” while schools were closing and affecting some of the most vulnerable downtown neighbourhoods.

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne replied that it would be “irresponsible to tie the hands of local school boards.”  She pointed to the fact that 62 of 70 school boards are facing declining student enrolment and stated:

“The reality is that we have to work with our school boards. They understand what's going on in their communities and we need to continue to put resources in place-$4 billion over the last four years. In the face of declining enrolment, we have continued to increase funding and we will continue to do that.”

5. Waiting Lists for Autism Services

On March 20, PC MPP Julia Munro brought forward concerns of parents whose children are on waiting lists for autism services.  She asked w hen the government would develop “an accountable and transparent plan” for parents waiting for such services.  Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews pointed out that her government had ended the age six cut-off imposed by the previous Conservative government and that this policy had increased the number of children eligible for treatment.  She explained:  “Parents are told that the wait list is a wait list. You wait. There's no prioritization. You have to wait, and when it's your turn, you are assessed for service so that children receive IBI therapy only if they can benefit from it.”

In a supplementary question, Ms Munro asked whether the government would study the treatment practices and options in other jurisdictions.  Education Minister Kathleen Wynne replied:

“Quite apart from not looking at other jurisdictions, we are moving ahead on preparing and increasing the capacity in our education system to provide opportunities for children on the autism spectrum to get a range of service. ..The training that has gone on with thousands of individuals within the education system, so that they understand how to deliver an applied behaviour analysis approach, has provided opportunities for children actually to move off that waiting list and get into school, because the object of any parent is to have their children as part of the mainstream education system as soon as they can…”

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