Long-term solutions should be priority over scoring short-term political points

Queen’s Park -  Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner is committed to holding the government accountable for its focus on scoring short-term political points, rather than seeking long-term solutions. The GPO is urging the government to act on three important issues during this session.
Fair Schools
The GPO is challenging the McGuinty government to stop attacking teachers and to work with teachers to find savings. Instead of closing the door to talks about modernizing Ontario’s school system, the government should take a serious look at the advantages of moving to one school board.

“McGuinty should be in a room with teachers, looking for solutions to the crisis in our educational system, rather than pushing through his political agenda,” says GPO Leader Mike Schreiner. “This undemocratic attack on Ontario’s educational staff will not be the last, unless we start a discussion on ending wasteful duplication in our current school system.”

Studies from independent organizations show Ontario could save $1.3 to $1.6 billion by moving towards a single English and French public school board.

Ontarians First
Instead of politically motivated election promises, the GPO supports policies and investments that will increase efficiency, spur innovation, and lead to sustainability for Ontario. Schreiner cited the cancellation of the Mississauga gas plant, the off shore wind moratorium and the new Highway 7 announcement in Kitchener-Waterloo as costly, unplanned examples of short-term thinking that puts political party interest ahead of good public policy.

“I am committed to providing principled, positive and practical solutions and practicing a new kind of politics that moves beyond cynical political games,” says Schreiner. “Transportation and infrastructure initiatives like new highways need careful planning and shouldn't be part of an election-promises goodie bag.”

Love it Protect it
The GPO will continue it efforts to protect Ontario’s most treasured natural assets. The GPO is currently petitioning the government to make Wolf Lake in Temagami a provincial park, is fighting to protect prime farmland and clean water from quarries, and is pushing for a sustainable development plan that respects First Nation’s rights in the Ring of Fire.

“The GPO will fight to protect our valuable natural assets,” pledges Schreiner. “We raised the alarm about threats to environmental protections in the budget and will continue to push forward policies that enrich our natural assets.”

Let's have a conversation about a fair school system

 

Green Party of Ontario

Do all Ontarians pay for Catholic Education?

Yes. Every Ontario tax payer pays for education. That money is allocated per student to both boards.

Why do I have to declare which board I support municipally?
That declaration allows you to vote on your board specific trustees but does not effect your taxes.

Greens: We can balance the budget and improve education in Ontario

Toronto, Ontario - Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Leader Mike Schreiner is disappointed with the McGuinty government’s decision on Thursday to slam the door on conversations with teachers.

“The GPO believes Ontario must balance our province’s budget,” says Schreiner. “The most progressive business leaders know that front line workers are in the best position to identify better, more efficient ways of doing things. The McGuinty government’s failure to work with teachers to identify savings is irresponsible.”

The Green Party of Ontario wants tax dollars spent on important public services, not interest payments on debt. The GPO is calling on the government to work with teachers to identify the most effective and efficient way to achieve cost savings.

“Picking a fight with teachers and refusing to talk about ending the wasteful duplication in funding separate schools is not putting our kid’s education first,” says Schreiner.

At the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) general meeting in Toronto members voted in favour of a motion that would see public funding of public education in Ontario limited to the public system. Only the GPO is calling for a public commission to determine the best way of merging the separate and public education systems into a single French and English school board. Studies suggest that this could save $1.3 to $1.6 billion in duplicate administration and operating expenses.

“The Liberals are making a big mistake slamming the door on an opportunity to balance the budget while improving the quality and fairness of our schools,” says Schreiner. “The old line parties have done nothing but present voters more of the same. Voters in by-elections in Vaughan and Kitchener-Waterloo can send a message to Queen’s Park: Ontarians expect modern solutions to modern problems.”

Schreiner achieves 92% approval rating from GPO membership

GPO Leader Mike Schreiner achieved a 92% approval rating this weekend at the party’s convention held in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“I am honoured to have the overwhelming support of the membership,” said Schreiner. “We are a unified team with the same goal: to give Ontarians an alternative to the stale politics-as-usual at Queen’s Park that is failing to tackle the big challenges facing our province.”

Schreiner’s approval rating of 92% is impressive compared to that of other party Leaders. Tim Hudak achieved 78.7% approval rating from Progressive Conservatives in February and Andrea Horwath achieved 76.4% approval from the Ontario NDP in April.

In his address to delegates on Saturday, Schreiner rallied members in anticipation of the call for a by-election to replace Elizabeth Witmer (PC) in Kitchener--Waterloo.

“On May 2, 2011, voters elected the first Green MP in Canadian history. Elizabeth May has shown how powerful one voice can be in the House of Commons,” said Schreiner. “In Ontario, the balance of power hangs on one seat. By voting Green in Kitchener—Waterloo, voters have the opportunity to put the community’s needs ahead of party interests and send a strong message to Queen’s Park that we can get politics back on the rails in Ontario.”

Schreiner will be visiting the riding to speak to members in Kitchener--Waterloo on Thursday to begin preparations for the by-election that is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.