EVES GOVERNMENT PROVIDES MORE EDUCATION FUNDING
Remarks of Bob Runciman, MPP Leeds-Grenville,
on education funding enhancements.
I would like to thank everyone for attending
this information session concerning education
funding and how it affects the three boards
that operate schools in Leeds-Grenville.
For my part, I think it's important that I
share with you a synopsis of where the Ontario
government stands in facing the challenges associated
with providing the best education system possible
for our children. There are a number of issues
that could be addressed but I would like to
concentrate today on education funding.
I could spend a lot of time describing to you
the situation this government faced upon taking
office in 1995. Much to your relief I’m
sure, I won’t do that but I’ll mention
just one statistic to emphasize the gravity
of the situation we faced: The government was
spending $1.2 million an hour more than it was
taking in. We faced a rapidly increasing provincial
debt and were struggling under double-digit
deficit budgets.
We realized then that government did not have
the financial resources necessary to provide
the first-rate education system that our children
deserve and their parents expect. Tough decisions
were made with the immediate goal of putting
the province's financial house in order to meet
the long-term goal of being able to produce
sufficient resources to finance the type of
education system we all want for our children.
In 1998, our government introduced student-focused
funding as a new approach to providing the resources
for quality education. The approach was designed
to ensure that education dollars are directed
to the classroom and that all students receive
support for a good education, regardless of
where they live in Ontario or what school system
they attend. It also sought to encourage efficient
and effective use of education dollars with
accountability to parents and taxpayers.
In 2002, the government established the Education
Equality Task Force chaired by Dr. Mordechai
Rozanski to review the success of the system
and what could be done better.
The Task Force concluded after reviewing 775
submissions from all across the province, that
the government's student-based funding formula
is an effective way to bring fairness to all
students. He praised the formula because it
is improving student learning and achievement
and will continue to do so in the future.
Dr. Rozanski, however, identified three priority
areas that required immediate funding enhancements:
special education, collective bargaining and
transportation.
The very next day, Premier Ernie Eves and Deputy
Premier and Minister of Education Elizabeth
Witmer responded with the first of three major
funding announcements in these three categories.
The Ontario government increased funding for
special education by $250 Million bringing its
commitment to $1.6 Billion, the highest in Ontario’s
history.
The government also invested an additional
$340 Million to provide sufficient resources
for school boards to reach responsible collective
agreements with their unions to prevent interruptions
in the classrooms.
The Ontario government also increased funding
for transportation by $20 Million.
The overwhelming response by the education
sector has been that these announcements will
greatly benefit the students in their systems.
Dr. Rozanski re-affirmed that we are on the
right track and that our changes are producing
measurable improvements. Working together with
our partners _ the school boards, the teachers,
parents and also our students _ we are well
on our way to ensuring Ontario has one of the
best education systems in the world. Moreover
he confirmed what we already knew … that
the student-focused funding formula for education
ensures fairness and equality.
I would like to comment on what these funding
announcements will mean to our local boards.
I must note that the figures I am presenting
reflect the picture after our government announced
the funding enhancements in mid-December. Within
a few days, they will change slightly reflecting
the new enrolment numbers the boards submitted
to the ministry recently. And they will change
again when final enrolment figures are submitted
in March.
With student-focused funding, revenue figures
for the boards fluctuate with changing enrolment
numbers. The enhancements announced, though,
are improvements on funding levels, not a reflection
of the changes to enrolment. And they become
part of the boards' permanent funding base.
The boards will be able to provide more up-to-date
figures.
UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
With 34,854 students, the board's 2001-2002
budget was $239,272,788. Despite a projected
enrolment loss of 352 students, the projected
budget for 2002-2003 is $245,391,661.
The enhancements announced in December add
$2,716,636 for special education; $5,865,290
for collective bargaining requirements and $539,479
for transportation, totalling $9,121,405. Funding
improvements since April of 2002 total $17,268,660.
CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD OF EASTERN ONTARIO
With 13,841 students, the board's 2001-2002
budget was $ 98,282,650. Projected enrolment
increases to 14,343 students in 2002-2003 and
the projected budget is $104,117,793.
The enhancements announced in December add
$2,209,952 for special education; $2,333,710
for collective bargaining requirements and $277,241
for transportation, totalling $4,820,903. Funding
improvements since April of 2002 total $7,462,217.
CONSEIL SCOLAIRE du DISTRICT CATHOLIQUE du
CENTRE-EST de l'ONTARIO
With 15,176 students, the board's 2001-2002
budget was $121.344,587. Projected enrolment
increases to 15,418 students in 2002-2003 and
the projected budget is $126,176,747.
The enhancements announced in December add
$825,176 for special education; $2,850,265 for
collective bargaining requirements and $217,699
for transportation, totalling $3,893,140. Funding
improvements since April of 2002 total $6,618,700.
In closing, I would like to say: Dr. Rozanski
has provided the Ministry with a lot to think
about. The Premier, the Ministry of Education
and the Ministry are committed to aggressively
reviewing the rest of the recommendations, and
will be making further announcements to further
enhance Ontario’s education system.
Thank you for your attention. I look forward
to hearing comments from the chairmen of our
area school boards.
