Latest news with #TracySchmidt
Winnipeg Free Press
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Taxpayers on the hook when politicians praise themselves
Opinion It's a narrative as old as party politics. The government of the day spends wads of taxpayers' money on gratuitous, politically motivated advertisements to promote something it just did; the opposition howls in protest at the waste of precious public dollars. The government shrugs. It doesn't matter which party is in power or which occupies the opposition benches. Spend taxpayer dollars on politically motivated billboards, radio spots and online ads? Why wouldn't we? MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Education minister Tracy Schmidt described the advertising program as a legitimate tool of public awareness. The latest example of this lamentable trend — highlighted in a Free Press story Monday — is the NDP government's decision to spend $94,000 to promote its school nutrition programs. At first blush, spending less than $100,000 to promote a worthy $30-million program seems reasonable. A deeper look reveals it to be a rather shabby piece of political theatre. First, let's agree school nutrition programs are a valid government expense. Such programs in Manitoba have been supported by both the former Progressive Conservative government and the current NDP administration. It's for good reason; providing free food to students is a proven method to improve educational outcomes. Not every student needs access to free food, but far too many do. In 2023, programs established by the Tories that were significantly expanded by the NDP allowed three-quarters of the province's public schools to feed more than 61,000 students via free breakfasts, lunches, snacks and a stand-alone milk program. Increases in funding, from both Manitoba and the federal government, have built expectations that at least some students in every school division will have had a free nutritional program in 2024, and beyond. The issue is, attempts by the government of the day to use nutrition programs for political benefit. Education Minister Tracy Schmidt described the advertising program as a legitimate tool of public awareness. In a prepared statement, Schmidt said 'Manitobans deserve to know about one of the most important changes to our education system in a generation.' Schmidt is right about the importance of the program, but the way she's going about it is wrong. Schmidt seems to be unaware her advertising campaign is, at its heart, misguided. The best way to advertise an important school nutrition program is through schools. Every fall and throughout the year, families with school-age children are bombarded with information about all aspects of public education. A combination of handouts, emails and bulletins from parent advisory councils can reach the people you need to reach. Your target audience is, in this instance, also a captive audience. Billboards and online ads are a clumsy and unfocused way to contact families of school-age children. In fact, once the government uses mass media, it's only trying to give itself a political pat on the back. It's also incredibly hypocritical given that both parties have attacked each other for politically motivated government advertising. While in opposition, Premier Wab Kinew and his NDP caucus regularly assailed the PC government for using taxpayers' money to fund political ads. In 2015, then-opposition leader Brian Pallister erupted over the news that NDP premier Greg Selinger, trailing badly to the Tories, had spent $1 million on a 'Steady Growth' ad campaign to promote the provincial budget. The NDP and Liberals freaked out in 2019 when Tory premier Brian Pallister spent $173,000 on an ad campaign to trumpet a reduction in the provincial sales tax from eight per cent to seven per cent. In opposition, the Tories had promised to end all 'partisan government advertising;' after they returned to government in 2016, it suddenly seemed to be OK. The NDP lashed out in 2020, when Pallister spent $250,000 on the infamous '#RESTARTMB' campaign, which declared the province free of COVID-19 restrictions. Carrying a provocative tag line — Ready. Safe. Grow. — the campaign was soundly criticized because it was way too early to declare any kind of victory over this killer virus. This is hardly the only example of 'do as I say and not as I do' politics. It's pretty hilarious, for example, how the NDP and Tories take turns violating pre-election restrictions on government advertising and announcements. In opposition, it's so wrong; but while in power, it seems so right. Here's an idea I suspect neither of the two parties that share power in Manitoba will embrace: set up a commission with a few qualified non-government voices, and develop a definition of legitimate government advertising. Maybe even set up a body to review applications from the government for ad campaigns. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. There are times when it makes sense for the government to buy space on billboards. For example, telling citizens about a new tax credit. Government insiders will tell you that on a regular basis, people miss out on tax credits because they just didn't know about them. However, the big, splashy campaigns designed by governments have no legitimate purpose. It may be a venerable tradition in party politics, but it's time for one party or another to set the ground rules and stop this profound waste of taxpayer money. Perhaps we can tempt one of the parties by promising to thank them on a billboard. Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
09-06-2025
- General
- CBC
A for effort: First year of cellphone bans in Canadian schools gets mostly positive marks
Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. "I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,"' the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. "It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules." Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. "They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car." She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But others have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. "He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' "I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction." Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Now, as the school year wraps up, education ministries across Canada say the impact of banning cellphones has been positive overall. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Before the ban, Manitoba Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. "The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop," said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. "They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. (The librarian) was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step." Ontario 's education ministry said parents and teachers found the ban created a better learning environment. "As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed," said spokesperson Emma Testani. In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. "While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones," said Burke. WATCH | Teachers say students are more focused: Ontario teachers see benefits from classroom cellphone ban 6 months ago Duration 2:18 Four months into Ontario's ban on cellphones in classrooms, many teachers say students have accepted the change and are more focused, but it's too early to say if there's been an impact on performance. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta 's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. "Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones," said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. "He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class." Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class — her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab — so she can listen to music. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for Generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms
A 12-year-old boy plays with his personal phone outside school in Barcelona, Spain, on June 17, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Emilio Morenatti EDMONTON — Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. 'I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,'' the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. 'It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules.' Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. 'They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car.' She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But some have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. 'He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' 'I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction.' As the school year wraps up this month, education ministries across Canada say there have been overall positive results from banning cellphones. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Before the ban in Manitoba, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. 'The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop,' said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. 'They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. (The librarian) was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step.' Ontario's education ministry said parents and teachers find the ban has created a better learning environment. 'As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed,' said spokesperson Emma Testani. In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. 'While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones,' said Burke. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. 'Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones,' said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. 'He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class.' Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class — her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab — so she can listen to music. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. 'We were born when people were inventing iPads and iPhones ... so we grew up with screens.' She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Education ministries see positive results from classroom cellphone ban as school year wraps
Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. 'I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,'' the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. 'It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules.' Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. 'They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car.' She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But some have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. 'He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' 'I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction.' Opinion: Ontario's toothless school cellphone ban isn't working. It's time to rethink it As the school year wraps up this month, education ministries across Canada say there have been overall positive results from banning cellphones. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Before the ban in Manitoba, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. 'The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop,' said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. 'They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. [The librarian] was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step.' Ontario's Education Ministry said parents and teachers find the ban has created a better learning environment. 'As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed,' said spokesperson Emma Testani. Explainer: The cellphone rules for the 2024-2025 school year in every Canadian province and territory In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. 'While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones,' said Burke. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. 'Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones,' said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. 'He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class.' Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class – her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab – so she can listen to music. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for Generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. 'We were born when people were inventing iPads and iPhones ... so we grew up with screens.' She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms
A 12-year-old boy plays with his personal phone outside school in Barcelona, Spain, on June 17, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Emilio Morenatti EDMONTON — Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. 'I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,'' the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. 'It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules.' Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. 'They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car.' She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But some have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. 'He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' 'I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction.' As the school year wraps up this month, education ministries across Canada say there have been overall positive results from banning cellphones. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Before the ban in Manitoba, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. 'The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop,' said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. 'They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. (The librarian) was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step.' Ontario's education ministry said parents and teachers find the ban has created a better learning environment. 'As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed,' said spokesperson Emma Testani. In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. 'While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones,' said Burke. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. 'Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones,' said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. 'He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class.' Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class — her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab — so she can listen to music. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. 'We were born when people were inventing iPads and iPhones ... so we grew up with screens.' She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press
