Thanks for your interest
as you move ahead in your decision in this
years provincial election. While I have
formulated my opinion based on my role and
experience on education issues affecting
this board and catholic education, you
ultimately need to make up your mind as a
voter.
I sent out an 11-question survey to the
three party candidates (most likely to form
government) in the four electoral ridings
within TCDSB Ward 7:
|
QUESTION |
YES |
NO |
COMMENTS (if any) |
|
1)
Will you support and respect
Ontario’s current four publicly
funded school boards including
Catholic and French-Catholic school
boards as protected in the Canadian
constitution? |
|
|
|
|
2)
Will you support and be vocal for
stable long term education funding? |
|
|
|
|
3)
Will you work with all levels of
government to ensure that school
buildings are treated and funded as
shared public assets for the benefit
of the entire community? |
|
|
|
|
4)
Will you support amendments to the
Education Act allowing school boards
to use options to use educational
development charges (EDCs) for
building construction in addition to
solely land acquisitions today? |
|
|
|
|
5)
Will you support amendments to the
Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA),
ensuring provincial enforcement
including streamlining the process
of dealing with complaints from the
public? |
|
|
|
|
6)
Would you support more local school
board management and autonomy
including policy, curriculum and
education models? |
|
|
|
|
7)
Will you support introduction and
funding to establish an office of
the ombudsman for school boards? |
|
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8)
Will you support amendments to the
Education Act previously amended by
Bill 177 ensuring proper
accountability for families and
students through their
democratically elected board of
trustees? |
|
|
|
|
9)
Will you support legislation
extending parliamentary immunity
currently provided to MPs and MPPs
to municipal politicians while in
their chambers or board rooms to
ensure protection and integrity of
the political process? |
|
|
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|
10)
Do you support continued
standardized testing of students in
various aspects of the curriculum?
|
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|
|
|
11)
Will you support the continued
funding and research for Special
Education students including
programs such as the Arrowsmith
program? |
|
|
|
I only received formal generally
favourable responses from:
David Zimmer, Liberal Candidate in
Willowdale
>>>>>
View Response
Michael Coteau, Liberal Candidate in Don
Valley East >>>>>
View Response
I note that some of the questions were
not directly answered but positioned a
safe-party line on potentially sensitive or
controversial topics.
I also received a late letter from Mr.
Hudak, PC Party leader on behalf of
candidates in Willlowdale, Don Valley East,
Scarborough-Centre and
Scarborough-Agincourt. Mr. Hudak did not
answer any of the questions specifically but
referred to elements contained within the
party platform.
>>>
View Response
|
