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Legislative Update – July 22, 2019

2019 7/22 | Connects Page, Provincial Updates

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario remains on summer recess and resumes on Monday, October 28, 2019.

Office of the Ontario Ombudsman

On July 17, the Ontario Ombudsman’s investigation report into Near North District School Board’s decision to close Widdifield Secondary School after the 2016-2017 Pupil Accommodation Review process, was made public. The report includes 14 recommendations, which were accepted by the Board.

Ombudsman’s News Release

Climate Action Incentive Fund

The Government of Canada has created a Climate Action Incentive Fund for Schools. With this new program, the federal government is proposing to provide $40.9 million dollars for energy efficiency investments in Ontario’s schools. On July 17, OPSBA sent to a letter to Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and copied Jeff Yurek, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks. On July 19, iPolitics reported that Minister Yurek had written to Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, saying that “(the) government agrees in principle to redistributing these funds back to Ontario school boards, subject to any necessary internal approvals.” OPSBA will continue to follow up with both ministries about funding and timelines for our schools.