One indication of the touted “peace and stability” in the education sector was the dearth of education questions from the Opposition this week.  Understandably, the water crisis on the Kasechewan Reserve near James Bay, the rise in gun violence, energy costs, increases in municipal property tax assessments, and health care received top billing during Question Period this week.

Those education issues that were raised were done so by government backbenchers in order to profile recent initiatives the government wishes to promote with the public, such as plans to assist new teachers, policies for healthier student activities, and community use of schools. 

1.  Support for New Teachers

On October 25, 2005, former ETFO member, MPP Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh) asked Education Minister Gerard Kennedy to explain the government’s new induction program for teachers. The Minister replied: 

“These new teachers will receive a mentor, an experienced teacher. They will receive specific professional development to address the things you can only learn on the job, like classroom management, dealing with parents effectively, doing some of the things that may not have been covered fully in their preparation in the pre-service university program."

“What it means, in short, is that we will provide the most support there has ever been to beginning teachers. In previous years and in previous administrations, we lost as many as one in three in their first five years. But in addition, we will have the best-prepared teachers anywhere in the country.”

In a supplementary question, Mr. Brownell asked what the government was doing to replace the cancelled Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test for faculty of education graduates. The Minister replied: 

“What there was before was an expensive $9-million test applied by an American company, hired by the previous government, that gave the test before any classroom teaching started and right after the students had finished their exams and their coursework."

“What will happen instead is that every new teacher will be evaluated by a principal two times during their year and they will receive supportive development in between. If they don't succeed in that, they will continue to get development. They will then reach the formal teacher appraisal program. I think what this does is create the right kind of relationship where principals are both evaluating but also supporting the development of new teachers.” 

2.  Healthier School Strategy

On October 27, MPP Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburg) asked Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson about the concerns raised by the Ontario Medical Association that an extra 20 minutes of physical activity in schools, as mandated by the provincial government, did not go far enough to address the increasing incidence of obesity among young people. 

Mr. Watson replied: 

“The 20 minutes of physical activity, to be very clear, is, number one, just a start. Secondly, it's in addition to the two to three periods a week that young children in elementary school participate in in their regular phys. ed. classes. We're putting $10.7 million into training and providing resources for teachers to ensure that the 20 minutes of physical activity in the classroom is effective to get the heart moving and to get people physically fit. It's a holistic approach, in addition to removing junk food from vending machines and providing new guidelines for nutritional standards in school cafeterias.” 

In responding to a supplementary question, Mr. Watson pointed to the role of community-based programs and the new policy on community use of schools that also play an important role in addressing the issue. 

3.  Hospital Funding

On October 26, in an attempt to counteract community activism in opposition to the private-public partnership approach to building hospitals, Liberal MPP Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe) asked Public Infrastructure Renewal Minister David Caplan to explain the government’s financing policy.  Mr. Caplan replied: 

“Our government has taken unprecedented action to invest in health care infrastructure like never before. Part of our $30-billion total investment, our ReNew Ontario program: $5 billion of investment in hospitals and in health care. The big advantages of using the method here is that we can deliver state-of-the-art medical facilities for people, not only in London but right across Ontario from one end to the other, sooner, faster and more efficiently.” 

In his supplementary question, Mr. Ramal asked the Minister to respond to charges that the Liberal government was simply continuing the public sector-private sector, “P3” model of the previous Tory government.  Mr. Caplan stated: 

“There are some very key aspects. We've laid that out in a framework for investment called Building a Better Tomorrow. There are five key principles: that public interest is paramount; that value for money must be demonstrated; that there are clear accountability lines; and that -- this is a critical difference between the NDP-Conservative P3 approach and AFP -- public control is always kept in the hands of the Ontario government and our partners. On the issue of core assets, like hospitals, schools and water, it is that they will always be publicly owned. Those are significant differences to the NDP and Conservative P3 approach.” 

4.  Byelection Called in Riding of Scarborough-Rouge River

On October 26, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the byelection in the riding of Scarborough-Rouge River would occur on Thursday, November 24, 2005.  The byelection results from the retirement of Alvin Curling who was recently appointed Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Bas Balkissoon, a Toronto City Councillor, is the Liberal candidate.  The Progressive Conservative candidate is Cynthia Lai, a real estate agent.  Sheila White, a community activist and NDP caucus staff member, is the NDP candidate. Ms. White has run twice previously at the municipal level and as an NDP candidate in the last federal election.  

5.  Private Member’s Bill to Amend Colleges Collective Bargaining Act

On October 27, NDP Education Critic, Rosario Marchese, introduced legislation to amend the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act to extend bargaining rights to part-time employees. 

Private Member’s Bills rarely advance to the third reading stage, but often serve to bring an issue to the government’s attention.