The Kathleen Wynne-Andrea Horwath coalition government flexed its muscle at the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly, voting to shut out parents, principals and teachers from an important bill dealing with the future of education in our province.
“We wanted three days of public hearings to ensure we get this right,” said Cambridge MPP Rob Leone, “Instead, we are going to get three hours. It’s not enough time and that’s absolutely shameful.”
A motion introduced by the Ontario PC party would have allowed an opportunity to hear from educators, parents and stakeholders across the province while debating Bill 122. But the government and the third party voted against the motion, and with it, voted against having an open dialogue about the future of education.
Leone, the Ontario PC critic for Education, said that both parties are beholden to teachers’ union bosses and it’s time for them to decide whose side they’re on.
“Liberal and NDP MPPs may be content to go through the motions when they come to work, but their constituents expect more from them,” he said. “It’s a sad day when the special interests dictate how MPPs carry themselves.”
“This was a clear vote against students today,” added Leone, “and all in the name of hiding their dirty laundry.”
The Liberal government has been under fire for their mismanagement of the education file, specifically this year. Ontario schools have seen an $8.5 billion per year increase in education funding despite having quarter of a million fewer students. Leone says that when you take into account the declining test scores across the province over the same time span, questions have to be asked and changes need to be made.
“This piece of Legislation refuses to consult parents, so it’s no surprise that Andrea Horwath and Kathleen Wynne have no interest in consulting parents,” concluded Leone. “Parents don’t help them get elected, special interests do.”
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