1:30 PM in front of Queen’s Park

Amendments proposed by Rosario Marchese
Member for Trinity Spadina and NDP Education Critic

November 26, 2009

During the two days of hearings on Bill 177 there was an incredibly high level of consensus from a wide range of presenters about what is wrong with this bill.

After listening to what parents, teachers, administrators and trustees had to say we put together a package of amendments which reflected the concerns of the participants.

Bill 177 would have allowed the provincial government to, “…make regulations governing the roles, responsibilities, powers and duties of boards, directors of education and board members, including chairs of boards”.

Like many presenters we asked the question, “What will be left for trustees to do on behalf of the parents who elected them?”

This section would have abolished the historical relationship between trustees and voters by redefining the role of trustees as agents of the government. If enacted, it would make it impossible for trustees to effectively represent voters, students and parents.

In the face of almost universal condemnation, the government defeated their own motion and removed this clause from the bill. Unfortunately, having voted against the motion doesn’t mean that the government won’t follow through on their original intent. It is very obvious, that based on what remains in the bill, the government intends to exert unprecedented control over school boards.