Latest news with #Bill33
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Minister of education continues to keep tabs on Brant Catholic board
The minister of education has no plans to let Brant trustees off the hook for their Italy trip. Since assuming the education portfolio, Paul Calandra has clamped down on school board spending — including at the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB), where four of six trustees took a trip to Italy last summer to commission art. 'I'm simply not going to sit back while students lose out and parents lose faith in the system,' Calandra told reporters at a news conference last Friday. He was there to announce a provincial takeover of four boards. While BHNCDSB wasn't one of them, it did come up. A review of the board came back in March with 18 recommendations, and Calandra gave four action items — many of which the board has already implemented, according to a June board meeting update. However, while trustees Rick Petrella, Dan Dignard and Bill Chopp repaid their $12,666 shares of the trip by Calandra's May 23 deadline, one has fallen short. Calandra said he's 'still waiting on one trustee who has made the decision that he's not going to be repaying the cost of his trip, which is ironic given the fact that this is a former educator, I'm told.' 'I think he deserves to be fired if he doesn't do the right thing, and we'll get that done,' he told reporters. The Spectator reached out to trustee Mark Watson, the BHNCDSB and Calandra's office to see if payment was made this week, but didn't immediately hear back. On Friday, Calandra said he's 'very confident' Bill 33 will pass 'before the end of the year.' The bill would give the minister more oversight of school boards — and not just when there are red flags for financial misuse. He gave the example of BHNCDSB. 'That's a board that was in a surplus position. We would never have known that that board was diverting money from the classroom so that trustees could go on vacations.' In the conference, Calandra announced the province was appointing supervisors for four school boards — the Toronto public and Catholic boards, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. But all boards across the province are 'on notice,' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton police advance relationship with public board as Ontario eyes return of officers to schools
Hamilton police are reaffirming their commitment to a constructive relationship with the city's public school board as a provincial bill proposing the return of uniformed officers to Ontario schools inches through the legislature. In a report presented to Hamilton's police board on Thursday, the service detailed discussions held with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) in March. These talks explored voluntary partnerships focused on promoting safety and youth engagement, including co-op placements, off-site educational programs, and student involvement in police events. The meeting came, in part, following Coun. Esther Pauls' October motion to the police board , which asked the service to investigate ways to advance its relationship with the school board. Pauls, whose son is a police officer who previously worked in schools, has been a vocal critic of HWDSB's 2020 decision to end its long-standing officer liaison program. This program was scrapped following concerns from racialized students. Coun. Esther Pauls, whose son is a police officer who once worked in schools, introduced a motion in October asking the service to look for ways to strengthen its relationship with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. But despite renewed dialogue, Chief Frank Bergen stressed police have no say on officers in schools — even as Bill 33 looks to compel Ontario's school boards to accommodate police programs. 'Where we are today (with HWDSB) is healthy because we're having a conversation and we're looking at what can we reimagine about that relationship,' Bergen told the police board Thursday. 'We also want everyone to understand that we serve at the pleasure of the (school) board, and we will not impose ourselves onto a board that is not ready.' Whether that approach would persist under the Supporting Children and Students Act remains to be seen. If passed, the legislation, which is yet to undergo a third reading or vote, would compel Ontario school boards to allow school resource officers (SRO) onto school property if a local police service offered them — regardless of board or community preference. HWDSB didn't respond to a request for comment Friday. The Catholic board still has a police liaison program. The plan has spurred backlash from critics who argue it undermines the autonomy of school boards. 'There simply has not been enough research in the Canadian context to make the claim that SRO programming in schools is justified,' Kojo Damptey, a McMaster University instructor and former head of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, said in a delegation to the police board Thursday. Speaking to the recommendation that police advance their relationship with HWDSB, Damptey told the police board that many Black, Indigenous and racialized students don't feel safe with officers in schools. He also argued police presence in schools doesn't correlate with youth crime rates. 'While the partnership has developed between the school board and police, one of the things that's missing at the board level is hearing from students about their perspectives,' Damptey said. In response to Damptey, Pauls pointed to a seven-year-old study from Carleton University , which interviewed roughly 1,300 Grade 9 students from five Peel Region high schools about SROs. The 2018 study found police presence in schools made students feel safer and reduced crime and bullying. 'They're less stressed, they miss less school, are able to learn better, mentally they are healthier,' vice-chair Pauls said. 'Students want to feel safe at school.' Peel police announced the dissolution of its SRO program in November 2020. As Bill 33 remains in the legislative process, Hamilton's police board has directed Bergen to maintain open lines of communication with HWDSB and find 'collaborative opportunities that align with both organizations' objectives.' Among other approved recommendations in the report are that police develop tailored programs with school leadership and establish channels to get feedback from students, staff and the broader community. Police acknowledged Bill 33's potential impact, noting in the report that it 'will help guide how we fulfill our legislative responsibilities moving forward.' 'Our approach emphasizes voluntary participation and collaboration, ensuring that any engagement is welcomed and beneficial to the school community,' police said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario universities running out of spots for province's students, schools warn
Ontario universities say they are running short of spots for the province's students, with 80,000 more needed over the next five years alone — including in some high-demand programs. And as they urge Premier Doug Ford's government to not only fund the spaces, they're also asking it to halt a plan that could cut student fees used to support on-campus clubs and services. In a submission to the province regarding changes under its education Bill 33 , the Council of Ontario Universities says the legislation does not address financial challenges schools face and also interferes with their autonomy. 'While Ontario's universities welcome the provincial government's funding for student spaces, including in STEM and teacher education that funded more than 20,000 unfunded student spaces, (the council) estimates that more than 80,000 spaces will need to be funded ... in order to meet growing demand' by 2030, says its submission, referring to the more than $800 million in recent funding for science, technology, engineering and math spots, as well as to train educators. 'The lack of funding is creating significant challenges for students and their parents as many qualified students are unable to enrol in the program of their choice due to limited spaces,' says the submission. 'Bill 33 will not help enrol these students.' But a letter to the council from Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn, sent Thursday night, said the legislation 'will ensure that essential student services remain available, that postsecondary education remains accessible to students from all backgrounds, and that research conducted in Ontario is protected in alignment with federal research security policies — without unnecessary duplication.' Quinn said 'there will be extensive consultation on this bill to ensure we are working with the sector on measures the government knows will increase student success and institutions' accountability ... as we have made clear, no regulations will be drafted or finalized until consultation with the sector has been completed.' The province has announced more than $2 billion for the post-secondary education sector in the past 14 months, funding more than 90,000 spaces in construction, teaching and nursing, and has promised it will review the overall funding model, which is outdated. 'While we acknowledge the concerns raised by Ontario's universities, we had hoped for a more open and collaborative approach at this early stage,' Quinn wrote. 'It is critical that Ontario's universities work constructively with the province not only when they are seeking additional funding, but also when the province is pursuing policy changes that support broader collaboration, transparency and accountability that will benefit students.' The universities' council says despite the recent funding, it is much less than a government-appointed panel recommended and that spaces will be tight in programs such as health, teaching and planning, among others. In addition, ancillary fees — which can add up to $1,000 per student on top of tuition — are set on an already 'transparent and appropriate mechanism' and any such changes 'would erode student services and university infrastructure and operations, negatively impacting students,' including cuts to mental health help or housing supports, their submission says. The province also wants schools to be more transparent on admissions, and ensure they are based on merit and is looking to review university governance. That comes as schools south of the border face pressures from President Donald Trump's government to end diversity initiatives. Universities here say they already make public admission grade ranges, required courses, and what application materials are required. 'No student is admitted to an Ontario university without meeting the academic qualifications for each program,' the submission states. 'However, institutions may consider admission information in certain situations to ensure no qualified student is excluded based on unfair barriers.' Quinn said that 'to be clear, the consultation will include, among other critical items, a thoughtful discussion on how to define 'merit' in a way that is not overly narrow or rigid and which is reflective of Ontario's postsecondary landscape. The intent is not to narrow the definition but rather to provide greater clarity for students and families around the objective criteria being used in admissions.' Shortly after it was first elected, the Ford government in 2019 cut post-secondary tuition by 10 per cent and has frozen rates since. Schools say they have been squeezed by that, combined with inadequate provincial funding amid inflationary costs. As well, with the loss of international students — who pay much higher tuition — because of federal clawbacks, universities and colleges are now cutting programs, campuses and staff to make ends meet. All that comes as universities have recorded a 17 per cent increase in applications from Ontario students. The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, or OCUFA, has noted the province provides among the lowest per student funding, and that to just get to the national average would mean spending an immediate $2.78 billion. Recently, the Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition — comprising faculty and staff unions, including OCUFA — warned the proposed bill, expected to pass in the fall, 'reflects the Ontario government's continued problematic efforts to exert increased control' over the sector, and said 'all students must still meet rigorous academic requirements for admission … these particular and few equity initiatives empower (post-secondary) institutions to foster more diverse and inclusive learning environments.' The government will consult on student ancillary fees after a previous try to implement its 'student choice initiative' that was struck down by Ontario's divisional court . The court ruled the province overstepped its authority and interfered with the autonomy of post-secondary schools and their student governments by making some fees optional, including food banks, clubs and campus media.
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
PROTECT BLACK AND ALL STUDENTS: FORD WANTS POLICE BACK IN SCHOOLS - SAY NO!
Event type: Press Conference and Family-Friendly Rally Location: Queens Park, South Entrance Time: 12PM-1PM ASL Interpretation Provided. TORONTO, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - We are a group of Black and allied parents, educators and researchers voicing our opposition to the Ontario government's legislation which mandates the return of police-in-school (SRO) programs under Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025. Schools must remain safe places for young Black and Indigenous students to learn. Peer-reviewed research and community voices tell us that racism in policing is endemic, causing mass surveillance, arrest, incarceration and overall brutality against Black communities, and particularly young Black and Indigenous people. These harms have been recognized by the Toronto Police Service, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Generations of young Black and other racialized people have been harmed by SRO programs, and Bill 33 rolls back the clock on racial progress, threatening to expose a new generation of Black learners to harm and violence in their schools. This must be stopped immediately. The proposed legislation—to return to the failed policy of stationing police in schools—endangers the safety, health, and well-being of Black, Indigenous and racialized youth. Bill 33 contravenes provincial equity policies and human rights protections, criminalizes young people in spaces meant for learning, and goes against the decisions taken by school boards across Ontario (in Toronto, Hamilton, Peel and Ottawa) to end the programs due to their harmful impacts on marginalized students. SRO's do not improve school safety: this has been widely proven and documented. Effective and evidence-based alternatives already exist to make schools safe but to make a greater impact they need Ford's support. Instead, the Ford government continues to make dramatic cuts to Ontario schools, and is now seeking to replace badly-needed supports with police.
Toronto Star
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Why bringing school resource officers back to our classrooms will do more harm than good
Education Minister Paul Calandra claims Bill 33, The Supporting Children and Students Act, will make Ontario schools safer. How can that be true when it mandates the return of police to schools? Proposing to bring back the School Resource Officer program, Calandra has turned his back on years of research that tells us that Black, Indigenous and racialized students do not feel safe attending schools with a police presence, that police in schools does not reduce the incidence of violence, but they do prop up the school-to-prison pipeline. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
