Queen’s Park Highlights - November 30, 2007

1. MPPs Elect New Speaker

Ontario MPPs returned to the Legislature on November 28 to elect a Speaker.  The successful candidate was Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters who ran for the position against former Speaker, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown in addition to Liberals Lorenzo Berardinetti and David Zimmer and Conservative Ted Arnott.  Time will tell whether Peters, a member of cabinet in during the Liberals’ first term, will have any more success than his predecessors in improving the decorum in the House.

The Legislature will have a brief sitting.  It will adjourn on December 13 for the winter break and likely not reconvene until some time in February.

2. Throne Speech

On November 29, Lieutenant-Governor David Onley delivered the Throne Speech, the document that sets forth the government’s broad agenda for its second term.  The speech was typically general and vague and essentially reiterated the Liberals’ election commitments.  In addition to the usual focus on health and education, the speech outlined the government’s increased concern for combating child poverty and strengthening relations with the province’s First Nations.

The highlights of the Throne Speech commitments include:

Education

• Continuing to work with parents and educators to improve student achievement and ensure more students graduate from high school and continue on to post-secondary education or apprenticeship training;
• Working to ensure more students meet the provincial standard in reading, writing and math;
• Adopting a plan to phase in full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds (kindergarten);
• Reducing the barriers facing students in at-risk communities by dramatically expanding the successful Pathways to Education;
• Making expanded homework help available online and after school;
• Introducing a special distance grant for students from the north and remote areas;
• Investing an additional $3.1 billion annually in education by 2011; and
• Conducting a review of the funding formula by 2010;

Labour

• Continuing to work with business and labour to attract, retain and create good, high-paying jobs.

(Delegates to the Ontario Federation of Labour convention held a protest at Queen’s Park prior to the Throne Speech to protest the lack of a government action plan to project manufacturing jobs.)

Poverty Commitments

• Establishing a new cabinet committee to develop a focused strategy for making progress on reducing child poverty;
• Providing dental benefits to low-income families;
• Increasing hourly minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010;
• Increasing more child care spaces;
• Providing more affordable housing; and
• Fully implementing the new Ontario Child Benefit to $1,100 per child.

Disability

• Working to improve and expand accessibility throughout the province.

Health

• Introducing legislation to ban trans fats from all school cafeterias and prescribing a healthier menu based on the Canada Food Guide;
• Creating an Ontario Fitness Challenge program to fight childhood obesity;
• Hiring 9,000 more nurses;
• Working towards goal of 70% of nurses working full-time;
• Guaranteeing jobs for nursing graduates; and
• Establishing 25 more nurse-led clinics.

Environment

• Working towards the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6% below 1990 levels by 2014, 15% below by 2020, and 80% below by 2050;
• Replacing coal, doubling renewable resources and conservation efforts, and modernizing Ontario’s nuclear capacity;
• Introducing toxic reduction legislation.

Aboriginal

• Making a priority of forging a stronger, more positive relationship with First Nations. (eg. Premier McGuinty has established Aboriginal Affairs as a single ministry.)
• Working with the federal government to accelerate the settlement of land claims.

To read ETFO’s response to the Throne Speech, check this link: ETFO Media Room

3. Early Learning Advisor Appointed

On November 26, Premier McGuinty held a news conference with Education Minister Kathleen Wynne and Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews to announce the appointment of Dr. Charles Pascal as the new Early Learning Advisor who will advise the government on how best to implement the Liberal election promise to fund full-day junior and senior kindergarten.

Dr. Pascal will officially commence his new assignment in February and will report back to the government within a year.  There are no details as yet regarding the consultation process that will support the work of the Early Learning Advisor.

To read more about Dr. Charles Pascal, check this link: http://www.atkinsonfoundation.ca/updates/Document_1196259546338

To read ETFO’s response to Dr. Pascal’s appointment, check this link: ETFO Media Room

4. Cabinet Committee on Anti-Poverty