Latest news with #SupportingChildrenandStudentsAct
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 .
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
10-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Ford government's changes to children's aid societies miss what actually needs fixing, critics charge
Proposed changes by the Ford government to bring new controls over the province's children aid societies focus too much on finances and not enough on kids' wellbeing, critics charge. The legislation, announced in late May as part of the sweeping Supporting Children and Students Act, would give the province greater financial oversight of children's aid societies, as well as require increased transparency over how the organizations operate.
Toronto Sun
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY: High time province puts kibosh on wasteful boards renaming schools
Legislation comes after Toronto District School Board voted in February to rename several institutions Get the latest from Brian Lilley straight to your inbox A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Photo by Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS Enough is enough: That's the message from Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Legislation introduced at Queen's Park last week will give the provincial government the authority to step in and correct school boards sooner – including when they try to rename schools. That means attempts to rename schools honouring people like Sir John A. Macdonald, Egerton Ryerson or Henry Dundas will need permission from the minister. 'I am, frankly, as done as all parents are and teachers are with a school system that has turned into a political battle zone,' Calandra said last week. 'Teach our kids, give the parents, the teachers the resources they need or we will step in and do the job for them.' His decision to introduce the Supporting Children and Students Act at Queen's Park came about after a string of stories of boards behaving badly. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In London, Ont., the Thames Valley District School Board spent tens of thousands of dollars sending administrators to the hotel at the Rogers Centre for a retreat. That came as the board was in the middle of cutting resources for students. Read More That looks like peanuts compared to the $190,000 spent by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic School Board on a trip to Italy to buy religious art for a new school. An investigation into that trip saw the province order board trustees involved in the trip to repay close to $50,000 of the trip's cost. Meanwhile, the Toronto District School Board voted in February to rename Dundas Junior Public School, Ryerson Community School and Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute, a move that will cost significant funds. Despite the law being introduced after the decision, it will, if passed, still cover this daft move by the TDSB. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'If a board began using a new school name on or after Jan. 1, 2025, but before the day section 5 of Schedule 2 to the Supporting Children and Students Act 2025 came into force, the minister may require the board to apply for approval of the name,' the bill says. Calandra made it clear that he's not in favour of Toronto's renaming plans, calling it a waste of money. 'At the exact same time, they're telling me that they have to maybe close school pools down or they have to fire teachers,' Calandra said. The minister's move to bring sanity to the system should be welcomed by all. Sadly, that's not the case with union officials, school board associations and opposition politicians denouncing the legislation, some even saying the problem is a lack of funding. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The real issue here is that the system is under financial strain,' the Ontario Public School Boards' Association said in a statement. RECOMMENDED VIDEO It seems pretty clear to anyone who is watching that there is a real problem with school boards spending money on the wrong things, including their pet political projects. 'I want politics out of the schools first and foremost, right?' Calandra said. 'I don't need trustees to develop curriculum. I don't need them to give me advice on global affairs, but what I need them to do is put money into classrooms and into our teachers so our students can succeed. When they move away from that mission, I will have the authority under this legislation to put them back on track and ensure that they're focused on their main mission.' Ontario spends $30 billion per year on elementary and secondary schools, a figure that works out to about $14,000 per student. We aren't getting value for our money and a big part of that is wasted spending at the board level. The scandals that Calandra reacted to are egregious. If he wants to find the real waste, he will start looking into the consultant class inside every single school board. That's where the real financial waste will be found, along with many of the political problems he's trying to root out. Editorial Cartoons Sports Toronto & GTA World Toronto & GTA
Vancouver Sun
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Ontario education minister steps in to prevent erasure of Sir John A. Macdonald, Ryerson and Dundas from Toronto schools
The Toronto District School Board has been stopped from erasing the names of Sir John A. Macdonald, Egerton Ryerson and Henry Dundas from its schools. The new legislation, introduced by Ontario education minister, Paul Calandra, on May 29, will require a board to apply to the minister before changing the name of an existing school. If a board began using a new name on Jan. 1, 2025 or afterward, the law would still enable the minister to require a board to apply for approval. Then it will be open to the minister to approve or reject the new name. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The legislation, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025 , takes aim at school board accountability, in particular financial mismanagement. 'I should be able to move quickly when it is very clear that a school board has lost its way. The legislation I introduced today, if passed, would allow me to do that,' Calandra posted on X. I should be able to move quickly when it is very clear that a school board has lost its way. The legislation I introduced today, if passed, would allow me to do that. The legislative basis for shutting down the TDSB effort is the prevention of boards from 'misspending dollars meant for education on wasteful things, such as the time and resources that the TDSB put into the renaming initiative,' says Allan Williams, executive director for the Canadian Institute for Historical Education (CIHE). 'The CIHE is very pleased with the draft legislation introduced by Minister Calandra yesterday that would give him the authority to prevent the misguided attempt by the TDSB to remove the names of Macdonald, Ryerson and Dundas from the three Toronto schools,' says Williams. 'We have been calling on the Ontario government to take the steps necessary to prevent or overturn the schools' renaming, so we're happy today and thank Minister Calandra. But draft legislation can take time to become law, so we urge him and the Ford government to move quickly on this.' Earlier this year, the CIHE called on Premier Doug Ford to intervene and prevent the TDSB from removing the three names. It also sent a representative to a meeting of the TDSB's Planning and Priorities Committee. Those efforts seemed to be for naught, as the board announced in late February that it was going ahead. Williams says the CIHE petition to stop the TDSB will stay online for signing until the proposed legislation is a done deal. Historian J.D.M. Stewart calls the government's move 'a rebuke of the TDSB and its flawed process for renaming these schools, a process that inexplicably did not include consultation with historians.' On a positive note, Stewart says, this is 'an opportunity to learn more about our history. The last several years have been filled with misinformation and misunderstanding.' The new legislation was hailed by education consultant Paul Bennett in a post on X. 'Historic School Names Saved in Toronto! Ontario Education Minister @PaulCalandra intervenes to halt erasure of John A. Macdonald, Egerton Ryerson and William Dundas from Toronto schools,' he wrote on Friday. Breaking News: Historic School Names Saved in Toronto! Ontario Education Minister @PaulCalandra intervenes to halt erasure of John A. Macdonald, Egerton Ryerson and William Dundas from Toronto schools. The @tdsb as been stripped of its powerto change the names. #cdned #ONTed The move came just two days after the Ontario government decided to remove the plywood box surrounding John A. Macdonald's statue at Queen's Park , restoring it to public view. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
