Queen's Park Highlights - March 12, 2010

This edition of Queen’s Park Highlights covers a two-week period.

The Legislature was prorogued on March 4 and reconvened with a new session and Speech from the Throne on March 8.

1. Throne Speech Highlights Education as a Priority

The Throne Speech, read by Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, reiterated that the government “has made education its highest priority” and pointed to the government’s policies related to reduced class sizes, raised test scores, increased graduation rates, and the creation of additional spaces in postsecondary institutions.

Early Learning

The speech also highlighted the Early Learning Program calling it the first program of its kind in North America that was part of a plan to give children a strong start at school, lift more children out of poverty, and help parents balance their lives. The speech also pointed to the plan to invest $32 billion in infrastructure with some funding being allocated to energy retrofits for schools.

Postsecondary Education

At the postsecondary level, the government will be aiming to increase its postsecondary participation rate to 70 percent and ensure that every qualified Ontarian who wants to attend college or university will find a place.  Without providing any details, the speech commits the government to improving the quality of postsecondary education system that will include apprenticeship training.

In order to secure additional sources of revenue, the province is aiming to open colleges and universities to more students from abroad and to increase international enrolment by 50 percent.  The organization that represents Ontario professors, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, was critical of the plan saying the province shouldn’t be relying on income from international students to fund the operating grants of postsecondary institutions.

2. By-elections

The results of the two March 4 by-elections did not change the party standings in the Legislature.  The Liberals held the seat of Ottawa West-Nepean and the Tories sailed to victory in Leeds-Grenville.  The unofficial results from Elections Ontario are as follows:

3. Early Learning Bill referred to Committee

Bill 242, the Full-Day Learning Statute Amendment Act, 2010, was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.  Hearings are scheduled for March 22 and 23.  ETFO supports the government’s plan to phase in full-day kindergarten beginning in September 2010, but has a few concerns about specific provisions of the bill.  The federation will be preparing a submission on the bill and has requested an opportunity to participate in the committee hearings.
To review the bill, click here:  http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2269

4. Minister Explains New Public Interest Regulation Governing School Boards

On March 11, on behalf of concerned trustees in his riding, Liberal MPP Charles Sousa asked Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky about the new “public interest” regulation governing school boards:

“Minister, can you tell the House, will the government be able to intervene at the board level solely on the basis of test scores? How will it affect accountability? How does it support struggling boards? What is involved, Minister, in the public-interest regulation?”

The minister replied:

“With respect to the regulation, we are highly sensitive to a range of issues that can impact student achievement. But it is a notice to boards that student achievement is something that we are paying very close attention to. Our government has made it clear that student success is a priority…

“I can say that, with respect to the provincial-interest regulation, test scores will be one part of the consideration but not the only part of the consideration that we make when we consider what we might do and what tools we might implement to assist and support school boards as they look to improve student success in their boards.”

5. Private Member’s Bill Proposes Bill of Rights for Children with Diabetes

On March 10, Liberal MPP Dave Levac introduced Bill 5, a private member’s bill entitled “Bill of Rights for Pupils with Diabetes, 2010.  The bill proposes that students with diabetes should be accommodated to be able to do a number of things including blood sugar checks, insulin injections, and eating snacks when necessary.

The bill does not propose requiring teachers or any other school employee to take responsibility for medical interventions of any kind.

6. Government Conducts Review of Student Health Support Services

Bill 5 was introduced a few days following a CBC report that the government is doing a review of health support services for students led by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.  The ministries of Children and Youth Services and Education are also involved.  The health ministry has contracted the firm Deloitte and Touche to conduct a review of current health support services for students.  School boards are participating in the consultation.

Deloitte and Touche are scheduled to submit a report to the government by July 2010.  Following that report, the Ministry of Education will review the policy which governs teacher responsibilities regarding medical intervention with students.  The current policy is quite restrictive.  ETFO collective agreements are also clear about the limitations of teachers’ role in this area.

To read the current ministry policy regarding student health supports, click here: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/81.html

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