Environment . Human Rights . Condominiums . Politics . Atheism . Food . Toronto . Ontario . Canada
2.29.2012
2.27.2012
Ex-Conservative has warning
A few months ago I was a card carrying Conservative, serving as a
director on both the Guelph and Kitchener-Center Conservative electoral
district association boards. I succeeded Michael Sona as president of
the University of Guelph Campus Conservatives and I can tell you I
deeply regret all the work I have done for the Conservative Party of
Canada.
They have gone against Canadian
values and have made a joke out of our democracy. I believed I was
working for a cause to bring greater accountability, transparency and
respect for the taxpayer; the result was just the opposite.
Canada is a great nation, built by a
people who value hard work, taking responsibility for one’s actions and
above all honesty. The government that sits in Ottawa values only power
and cannibalizes its own in order to save face.
As someone who has seen what is
talked about in the party, I can only say God help Canada in the next
four years. Because it won’t be the country that veterans, like my
grandfather fought so hard to protect.
Victor Pocaterra, Kitchener
Source: The Toronto Star
2.16.2012
ELECTORAL REFORM TOWN HALL
MP Carolyn Bennett is hosting a town hall for a candid discussion about electoral reform and urban activism.
Stéphane Dion, MP, Liberal critic for democratic reform will give a keynote speech.
Dave Meslin, urban activist and civic engagement specialist, will also share his views on electoral reform and civic engagement.
Donna Dasko of Equal Voice and Wayne Smith of Fair Vote Canada will also add their perspectives to this very important discussion.
Ask questions and share your thoughts on civic society and reforming the voting system. This is also a great opportunity to learn more about democratic and civic life in Canada.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19th, 2012
1:30 – 2:00 pm Parliamentary Clinic
2:00 – 4:00 pm Town Hall
Holy Rosary Parish Hall (next to the Church)
356 St. Clair Avenue West
Constitutional Cop-Out: Constitution No Obstacle to Amalgamation of Ontario's Public and Catholic School Systems
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 16, 2012) - The
Constitution presents no real obstacle to the amalgamation of Ontario's
public and Catholic school systems, say the directors of Education
Equality in Ontario.
The directors of Education Equality in Ontario were still in a
state of disbelief today at the absence of any mention of the overlap
and duplication in the Ontario school system in the report of the
Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services. "It is incredible
that a commission that was tasked with identifying 'areas of overlap
and duplication that could be eliminated to save taxpayer dollars' could
fail to comment on four public school systems serving overlapping
territories", said chairman Geraint Jones.
"It was interesting and perhaps telling that rather than
answer a question about that omission himself, Drummond passed the ball
to fellow Commission member Dominic Giroux, a former Assistant Deputy
Minister of Education and a well known advocate of Catholic separate
schools", said president Leonard Baak. "Why would he do that? Was Giroux
primarily responsible for the omission - and Drummond uncomfortable in
being party to it? It certainly deserves an explanation."
In defending the omission, Giroux explained that the
Commission had no mandate to address constitutional guarantees and
therefore the Commission did not consider the idea of ending funding to
the separate school system. "Nonsense", said Baak. "Even Premier
McGuinty indicated that Drummond was not forbidden from making that
recommendation - only that he would ignore it if he did." "So why didn't
he at least make the recommendation?" wondered Baak, "Is there any
greater or more obvious area of overlap and duplication in Ontario? They
obviously didn't fail to notice it. The omission was calculated and
deliberate."
"It is becoming increasingly common knowledge that Ontario's
constitutional 'obligation' to fund Catholic separate schools is largely
illusory", said Jones, "as it can be removed very quickly or can even
be ignored."
Constitutional provisions notwithstanding, religiously
segregated school systems like Ontario's have now been eliminated in
Quebec (1997), Newfoundland and Labrador (1998), and Manitoba (1890).
Denominational school rights in the Constitution were rescinded quickly
by Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador through a straightforward
bilateral agreement with Ottawa (Section 43 of the Constitution Act, 1982
provides the necessary bilateral amendment mechanism). Manitoba
eliminated denominational school unilaterally, despite a Constitutional
"obligation" to provide them that reads almost identically to Ontario's.
Ontario could take either path to fiscally responsible education
reform.
"The Commission's recommendations for cuts and restraint in our truly
essential services imply a great deal of hardship for Ontarians
regardless of their faith", said Baak, "It would be a great tragedy to
enact these recommendations while costly and completely unnecessary
duplication in education was allowed to continue."
"It is time for politicians to revisit Ontario oldest sacred
cow", said Jones "It shouldn't be too much to ask that government
distinguish between our truly essential programs and those like
religious school funding that are not essential at all. With Ontario's
finances as they are, religious school funding for a single favoured
faith is a frivolity we can no longer afford."
About Education Equality in Ontario
Education Equality in Ontario is a non-governmental human
rights organization and education advocacy group. We seek the
elimination of religious discrimination and duplication in the Ontario
school system through the establishment of a single publicly-funded
school system for each official language (English and French).
Reference (McGuinty comments):
Maria Babbage, "Premier McGuinty untroubled by accusations that he's not a good Catholic", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 Dec 2011.
Don't Toews Me Bro! Min. of Public Safety faces backlash from "child pornographers"
Tuesday February 21 will be Toewsday.
Canadians deserve online privacy and the government has not adequately
explained why it needs the pervasive powers created by Bill C30.
Do you want Bell, Rogers and Telus to keep track of your online habits ("even if you have nothing to fear")?
Get informed, share this with your friends, and don't be silent on this important issue.
Contact the Minister on Twitter: @ToewsVic
Email: Toews.V@parl.gc.ca
"...either stand with us, or with the child pornographers"
-Vic Toews - Conservative Minister for Public Safety
2.15.2012
Public interest must trump vested interests in tackling deficit
Toronto, ON - “Putting the public interest before vested
interests is the most equitable and efficient way to eliminate Ontario’s
record deficit,” says Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner.
Eliminating the deficit requires tackling vested interests in the province’s biggest budget categories: education, energy and health care, as well as bringing our tax system into the 21st century. The Green Party is putting forward long-term solutions to tackle the deficit:
One School System
Ontario must merge the Catholic and public school systems into a single French and English public system to build a high quality, financially responsible, and equitable education system.
Two school systems is an obvious source of duplication in the Ontario budget.
Ontario also has a financial and social obligation to end the discrimination that results from funding only one religious school system.
Stop borrowing billions to subsidize the wasteful use of energy
Ontario cannot afford to borrow 1 billion dollars each year to reduce electricity bills by a few dollars each month. The province should not play a shell game with our money for a program that benefits the wealthiest the most.
The misleadingly named Clean Energy Benefit should be scrapped and replaced with a targeted rebate program for low income families and seniors who need the help the most. Such a rebate would be more effective at a much lower cost.
We all save money with programs that help people save energy.
It’s healthy outcomes that matter
Ontario must move from a sick care system focused on hospitals to a home and community care system focused on illness prevention. Funding priorities should focus on healthy outcomes and providing people the continuum of care they need to maintain health and treat illness at the lowest cost to the public purse.
Ontario's current orientation to treating sickness is costly and unsustainable. We can do better by keeping people out of hospital in the first place. This starts with a funding formula that pays doctors for promoting health, not the quantity of services they provide.
We need to empower all health professionals to operate at their full scope of practice.
Bring our taxes into the 21st century
The Green Party believes the government made a serious mistake in establishing a commission that only addresses government expenditures. We also need a modern tax system that provides sufficient revenues to deliver public services. We need an equitable and efficient tax system that enriches quality of life and encourages job creation without damaging our natural capital.
The government should cancel corporate tax cuts that we can’t afford.
The Green Party calls on the McGuinty government to form a public commission on the reform and modernization of Ontario’s tax system.
Conclusion
“It’s time for politicians to stop punting problems to our kids,” says Schreiner. “The Green party commends the Drummond Commission for tackling some tough issues. Now the government needs to engage the public in implementing solutions.”
Eliminating the deficit requires tackling vested interests in the province’s biggest budget categories: education, energy and health care, as well as bringing our tax system into the 21st century. The Green Party is putting forward long-term solutions to tackle the deficit:
One School System
Ontario must merge the Catholic and public school systems into a single French and English public system to build a high quality, financially responsible, and equitable education system.
Two school systems is an obvious source of duplication in the Ontario budget.
Ontario also has a financial and social obligation to end the discrimination that results from funding only one religious school system.
Stop borrowing billions to subsidize the wasteful use of energy
Ontario cannot afford to borrow 1 billion dollars each year to reduce electricity bills by a few dollars each month. The province should not play a shell game with our money for a program that benefits the wealthiest the most.
The misleadingly named Clean Energy Benefit should be scrapped and replaced with a targeted rebate program for low income families and seniors who need the help the most. Such a rebate would be more effective at a much lower cost.
We all save money with programs that help people save energy.
It’s healthy outcomes that matter
Ontario must move from a sick care system focused on hospitals to a home and community care system focused on illness prevention. Funding priorities should focus on healthy outcomes and providing people the continuum of care they need to maintain health and treat illness at the lowest cost to the public purse.
Ontario's current orientation to treating sickness is costly and unsustainable. We can do better by keeping people out of hospital in the first place. This starts with a funding formula that pays doctors for promoting health, not the quantity of services they provide.
We need to empower all health professionals to operate at their full scope of practice.
Bring our taxes into the 21st century
The Green Party believes the government made a serious mistake in establishing a commission that only addresses government expenditures. We also need a modern tax system that provides sufficient revenues to deliver public services. We need an equitable and efficient tax system that enriches quality of life and encourages job creation without damaging our natural capital.
The government should cancel corporate tax cuts that we can’t afford.
The Green Party calls on the McGuinty government to form a public commission on the reform and modernization of Ontario’s tax system.
Conclusion
“It’s time for politicians to stop punting problems to our kids,” says Schreiner. “The Green party commends the Drummond Commission for tackling some tough issues. Now the government needs to engage the public in implementing solutions.”
Drummond hides behind Constitution
Drummond Report: New roadmap for Ontario includes higher hydro bills, larger school classes
"Green Leader Mike Schreiner chided Drummond for hiding behind the Constitution and not considering the savings that could be realized from melding the Catholic school system in the public one.
“It’s the biggest duplication of programs in the province. Quebec and Newfoundland have shown that constitutionally it’s possible,” said Schreiner."
"Green Leader Mike Schreiner chided Drummond for hiding behind the Constitution and not considering the savings that could be realized from melding the Catholic school system in the public one.
“It’s the biggest duplication of programs in the province. Quebec and Newfoundland have shown that constitutionally it’s possible,” said Schreiner."
2.07.2012
Put a single school system on the table for discussion now | Green Party of Ontario
Put a single school system on the table for discussion now | Green Party of Ontario
Now is the right time to fix Ontario’s outdated education system. Although we can take pride in the achievements of our students, we have to ask ourselves whether it is fair, equitable and responsible to fund one religious school board in addition to a public school board.
There are two compelling reasons to move to a single French and English public school system now.
First, Ontario faces a major financial challenge. We need to get the province’s record $16 billion budget deficit and approximately $190 billion accumulated debt--$14,207 per person--under control without gutting important public services. This effort will not be easy.
Efficiency and equity should guide deficit reduction. Education is the second highest spending category in the provincial budget. In a time of budget restraint, it makes sense to eliminate duplication in administration, buildings, and transportation so that our limited resources are focused on maximizing quality education for our children.
With the Drummond report on reforming the public service scheduled to be released next week, Ontario’s funding of a separate religious school board should be on the table as we look for efficiencies in the delivery of public services. It is neither efficient nor equitable to fund a separate school system for one religion.
Second, the opposition of Catholic Trustees to Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs highlights the pitfalls of using public dollars to fund religious schools in a diverse society. This response to the province’s proposed anti-bullying legislation certainly isn’t welcoming or supportive of providing gay students with a safe and welcoming school environment.
It is simply wrong for the province to fund public institutions that are not open and inclusive of all Ontarians. It is especially wrong to publicly fund schools that resist efforts to create a safe and positive learning environment for all students.
If Catholic schools believe that GSAs violate their religious freedom, they should not accept public money. This way a clear separation of church and state is maintained.
All Ontarians fund our school system. It is the government’s job to ensure that all Ontarians have equal access to the system and that the public has a voice in how our money is spent.
Change, especially change with such deep community, historical and Constitutional roots, will not be easy. But if provinces such as Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador can do it, so can Ontario.
Since schools play an essential role in educating our children and in strengthening our communities, broad public participation is needed to reform the system. The Green Party supports a citizen’s assembly or public commission to involve parents, staff, students and community leaders in determining the best way forward toward a modern single public French and English school system.
Today’s social and financial pressures make 2012 the right time to fix the inequity of Ontario’s separate school system.
Mike Schreiner
--
Watch Mike Schreiner tonight on The Agenda discussing the one school board issue, http://theagenda.tvo.org/episode/141125/separate-with-equal-school-funding
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)