ST. PAUL'S CANDIDATES' DEBATE WITH A FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH
TORONTO, August 2011 - There will be a provincial election held in Ontario on
October 6, 2011. As you know, public education is the second largest line item
in the provincial budget and education issues had a profound effect on the
outcome of the last two provincial elections.
Last month, the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) issued a
media release declaring Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 Education Day in Ontario.
In each provincial riding, public school boards are encouraged to host open
forums at their local schools inviting citizens to engage local provincial
election candidates on matters focused exclusively on public education (K-12).
I am happy to let you know that the Toronto District School Board has accepted
the challenge, and there will be a Provincial Candidates Meeting in St. Paul's.
WHAT: Provincial Candidates' Meeting focused on Public Education
WHEN: September 20 beginning at 7:00pm
WHERE: Northern Secondary School, 851 Mount Pleasant Rd
(Childcare provided)
The following nominated candidates for St. Paul's Riding have been invited to
participate - Eric Hoskins, MPP (Liberal), David Hynes (NDP), Christine McGirr
(Progressive Conservative) and Judith Van Veldhuysen (Green).
Candidates will be invited to share their views and answer questions from
students, parents and the community. This allows voters to understand where the
candidates stand on important issues in public education and to make informed
decisions when it comes to electing the representatives who will shape public
policy that profoundly impacts our lives now and in the future.
School boards are required by law to submit a balanced budget plan to the
Ministry of Education. To balance the budget this year, TDSB is depending
heavily on unsustainable measures to bridge significant funding gaps. The bulk
of this money comes from the continued deferral of maintenance projects and
program upgrades which adds to the Board's growing renewal backlog. Expressing
concern about the negative impact of continuing to rely on unsustainable
solutions for ongoing funding shortfalls, the Board has set in motion the
process of developing a three-year operating budget recovery plan to reduce
TDSB's structural deficit and reliance on renewal funds to balance the budget.
TDSB budget challenges impact the kind of future we want for the children of
this city. On September 20th, we urge candidates to tell Toronto voters what
they plan to do to renew and support our programs in our aging schools and make
every day "education day" for Toronto's children.
For more information, please contact
Trustee Shelley Laskin
