May 5, 2006 Highlights

On this page:

1. Education Week
2. Class Size
3. Child Care

1. Education Week

This week was Education Week in Ontario. The Premier, Minister of Education, and the two Opposition critics all made statements in the Legislature to commemorate the week, the theme of which was “Making Every Student Count.”

Premier Dalton McGuinty, in a statement on May 2, emphasized the contrast between his tenure in government and that of the previous government:

“When we took office two and half years ago, our once-proud public education system was caught in a slide…"

“Many families with the means were choosing private schools over public education, a stunning number of our young people were not finishing school and even the most remarkable of success stories were overshadowed by news of sliding morale, crumbling schools, lost programs and deep division."

“In the last 30 months, working with our education partners -- the families, students, parents and educators with a direct stake in the system -- we have not only stopped the slide; we have turned the corner. That's good news, because in the end this isn't really about us in this place. It's about Ontario families out there who want the best education for their children, and we are firmly on their side.”

On May 3, Education Minister Sandra Pupatello emphasized the theme of peace and stability and pointed to the government’s educational accomplishments over the past thirty months, including $2 billion in additional funding, smaller primary classes, higher levels of student achievement, and increased graduation rates.

On May 1, PC Education Critic Frank Klees joined the government in paying tribute to those who work in education. He also took the opportunity to make a pitch in support of private faith-based schools:

“Just as Ontario's Catholic schools celebrate the unique identity and distinct contribution that Catholic education makes to Ontario's education system, we cannot ignore the petitioning of those who are calling on this Legislature to treat all faith-based schools in Ontario fairly and equitably and without religious discrimination, to ensure that indeed we make every student count.”

In addition to lauding the important work of education workers, NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese pointed to a long list of outstanding unresolved education issues including insufficient capital funds for school renewal, a flawed funding formula, a reduction in ESL programs and services, troubles with the implementation of the class size cap, and “manipulation” of the EQAO test scores.

2. Class Size

On May 2, PC Leader John Tory pointed to news reports detailing problems related to the cap on primary class sizes. He asked the Premier: “ What do you propose to do about these exploding class sizes in grades 4 to 8 that are happening on your watch? How does this qualify as turning the corner, to use the words you used in your statement today, for those kids and those families who are in these exploding classes in the upper grades?”

Premier McGuinty replied: “…we are getting those class sizes down by providing new teachers in those particular years. This is not something that's coming at the expense of classes and class sizes in the rest of our elementary and secondary schools. We are very much devoted to doing this in a way that does not compromise the quality of education in the other years.”

In two supplementary questions, Mr. Tory cited specific examples of high class sizes in the upper elementary grades and examples of classes being moved to school basements or portables and music rooms being displaced as the result of the class size policy. In his response, the Premier chose to focus on other issues:

“Let's see what's happened on our watch. Test scores are up. There are more books in our school libraries. More special-ed kids are getting the help they need, and we've hired, in both the elementary and secondary panels, 4,300 more teachers. Class sizes are coming down in the early grades. Dropout rates are coming down. Peace and stability are back. Arts, music and phys. ed.classes are back in. Guidance counsellors are back in. Student success teachers are in. Lead teachers in literacy and numeracy in our elementary schools are there for the first time. I ask Ontarians –“

3. Child Care

Both NDP Leader Howard Hampton and the caucus child care critic MPP Andrea Horwath took the government to task this week on the government’s commitment to child care.

On May 1, Andrea Horwath challenged Children and Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers over the Liberal 2003 campaign promise to restore the $300 million cut from child care by the previous government. In response, the Minister defended her government’s record on saving close to 60% of the child care spaces planned through the federal funding received prior to the Harper government cancelling the federal child care deal. Ms. Chambers stated:

“In spite of the fact that the federal government has announced that they will cancel the five-year agreement they struck with Ontario, I'm really quite pleased to say that our province has committed to maintain and sustain every single space that will have been created by September of this year. That represents 14,873 new spaces, about 59% of the three-year target. We will make wage improvements. We will increase the number of subsidies, enabling more families to access child care. I am very proud of our province's leadership on this file.”

On May 3, NDP Leader Howard Hampton asked the Premier when the Ontario government would invest the promised $300 million of provincial dollars in child care. In response, Mr. McGuinty defended his government’s record on child care and pointed fingers at the actions of the federal NDP which voted to bring down the Liberal government of Paul Martin:

“His party was more than complicit in ensuring we had an election here in Canada, and they did not take the necessary steps to ensure that that child care agreement was protected. If the leader of the NDP wonders why Ontario families will no longer be able to benefit from that remarkable achievement, that new program of bringing child care to the people of Canada, again I say he need look no further than in the very mirror itself.”

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