The Legislature reconvened for the fall session on September 25, 2006. The next general election is just over a year away.

1. New MPP for Parkdale-High Park Sworn In

Following a bitterly fought byelection race between the Liberal and NDP, Cheri DiNovo, the successful NDP candidate, was sworn in as the newest Member of Provincial Parliament on the opening day.For more information about Ms. DiNovo, check her biography on the website of the Ontario NDP:  http://www.ontariondp.com/mpps/dinovo.php.

2.  Two Liberal MPPs Resign and New Education Minister Appointed

On September 18 MPP Joe Cordiano resigned as Minister of Economic Development and Trade and as a member of the Legislature.  He was first elected in 1985 and was a contender in the 1996 provincial Liberal leadership race that resulted in Dalton McGuinty assuming the mantle of leader.

Premier McGuinty moved Sandra Pupatello from the education portfolio to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Cordiano and promoted MPP Kathleen Wynne as Minister of Education. 

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Wynne served as a Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister.  First elected in 2003 as MPP for Don Valley West, her political experience includes serving as a school trustee with the Toronto District School Board.  As a trustee she was a vocal critic of the previous government’s education funding cuts and defended the board’s refusal to balance its budget.

For more information about Minister Wynne, check her biography: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/biography/edu_minister.html.

On the opening day of the session, Tony Wong, MPP for Markham also indicated he was resigning his seat.  Mr. Wong was first elected in 2003.  He has announced he plans to run for a position on the York Region council.  (The deadline for individuals to register as municipal candidates is September 29.)

3.  Resignation of MPP Cam Jackson

On September 28, Cam Jackson, Tory MPP for Burlington, announced his resignation.  Mr. Jackson is entering the mayoralty race in Burlington.  He was first elected in 1985.Byelections must be called for all three vacancies within the next six months.

4.  Education Funding

On September 26, NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese asked the new Education Minister when she would address the problems with the education funding formula:

“Before your election, you were highly critical of the previous government because they forced school boards to balance budgets while admitting that the education funding formula was flawed. Three years later, you and your government have admitted the funding formula is flawed -- and you admitted as much again this morning -- but you're still forcing boards to make cuts in the classroom to compensate for your government's inaction. When are you and your government going to deliver on the fundamental changes to the education funding formula that you promised?”

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne replied:

“The fundamental difference between the previous government and this government is that, first of all, we believe in publicly funded education and, secondly, we have invested in publicly funded education. I know the member opposite knows that. There is not a school in your area or in the Toronto District School Board or in the Toronto Catholic District School Board that has not felt the result of the millions of dollars that we have put into Good Places to Learn…”

5.  Budget Woes of Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

On September 27, following the Minister’s meeting with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese accused the Minister of attempting to intimidate the board into making program cuts.  The Minister rejected the accusation and defended her attempts to work with the board to solve their budget problems:

“What we've been doing since we were elected is changing the funding formula. We've invested more to increase the benchmarks. We have fundamentally changed the funding formula. We've put in a school foundation grant that was not there before. It is a work in progress. That is what we talked about at Dufferin-Peel last night. And I make no apology for trying to establish and continue a collaborative working relationship with trustees. I believe that school trustees should be in control of their boards. I believe that's in the best interests of children. We will continue to work on the funding formula and continue to make investments to keep those school boards in charge of their boards.”

6.  Citizens’ Assembly

The 103 members appointed to the province’s Citizens’ Assembly have begun their work of considering reforms to Ontario’s electoral process.

The plenary sessions of the Citizens’ Assembly are open to the public and are being videotaped.  Recordings from the session can be accessed through the Citizens’ Assembly website: www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca.

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

September 28, 2006 Highlights

The Legislature reconvened for the fall session on September 25, 2006. The next general election is just over a year away.

1. New MPP for Parkdale-High Park Sworn In

Following a bitterly fought byelection race between the Liberal and NDP, Cheri DiNovo, the successful NDP candidate, was sworn in as the newest Member of Provincial Parliament on the opening day.For more information about Ms. DiNovo, check her biography on the website of the Ontario NDP:  http://www.ontariondp.com/mpps/dinovo.php.

2.  Two Liberal MPPs Resign and New Education Minister Appointed

On September 18 MPP Joe Cordiano resigned as Minister of Economic Development and Trade and as a member of the Legislature.  He was first elected in 1985 and was a contender in the 1996 provincial Liberal leadership race that resulted in Dalton McGuinty assuming the mantle of leader.

Premier McGuinty moved Sandra Pupatello from the education portfolio to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Cordiano and promoted MPP Kathleen Wynne as Minister of Education. 

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Wynne served as a Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister.  First elected in 2003 as MPP for Don Valley West, her political experience includes serving as a school trustee with the Toronto District School Board.  As a trustee she was a vocal critic of the previous government’s education funding cuts and defended the board’s refusal to balance its budget.

For more information about Minister Wynne, check her biography: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/biography/edu_minister.html

On the opening day of the session, Tony Wong, MPP for Markham also indicated he was resigning his seat.  Mr. Wong was first elected in 2003.  He has announced he plans to run for a position on the York Region council.  (The deadline for individuals to register as municipal candidates is September 29.)

3.  Resignation of MPP Cam Jackson

On September 28, Cam Jackson, Tory MPP for Burlington, announced his resignation.  Mr. Jackson is entering the mayoralty race in Burlington.  He was first elected in 1985.Byelections must be called for all three vacancies within the next six months.

4.  Education Funding

On September 26, NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese asked the new Education Minister when she would address the problems with the education funding formula:

“Before your election, you were highly critical of the previous government because they forced school boards to balance budgets while admitting that the education funding formula was flawed. Three years later, you and your government have admitted the funding formula is flawed -- and you admitted as much again this morning -- but you're still forcing boards to make cuts in the classroom to compensate for your government's inaction. When are you and your government going to deliver on the fundamental changes to the education funding formula that you promised?”

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne replied:

“The fundamental difference between the previous government and this government is that, first of all, we believe in publicly funded education and, secondly, we have invested in publicly funded education. I know the member opposite knows that. There is not a school in your area or in the Toronto District School Board or in the Toronto Catholic District School Board that has not felt the result of the millions of dollars that we have put into Good Places to Learn…”

5.  Budget Woes of Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

On September 27, following the Minister’s meeting with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese accused the Minister of attempting to intimidate the board into making program cuts.  The Minister rejected the accusation and defended her attempts to work with the board to solve their budget problems:

“What we've been doing since we were elected is changing the funding formula. We've invested more to increase the benchmarks. We have fundamentally changed the funding formula. We've put in a school foundation grant that was not there before. It is a work in progress. That is what we talked about at Dufferin-Peel last night. And I make no apology for trying to establish and continue a collaborative working relationship with trustees. I believe that school trustees should be in control of their boards. I believe that's in the best interests of children. We will continue to work on the funding formula and continue to make investments to keep those school boards in charge of their boards.”

6.  Citizens’ Assembly

The 103 members appointed to the province’s Citizens’ Assembly have begun their work of considering reforms to Ontario’s electoral process.

The plenary sessions of the Citizens’ Assembly are open to the public and are being videotaped.  Recordings from the session can be accessed through the Citizens’ Assembly website: www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca

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