Legislative Update

Archives: OPSBA News Posts

  • Legislative Update

    On May 12, OPSBA President Michael Barrett presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs regarding Bill 181, Municipal Elections Modernization Act. As noted in previous updates, the proposed amendments focus on changes to the election calendar, accessibility, third party advertising, campaign finance and election administration. The option for ranked balloting is not…

  • President Michael Barrett presents to Standing Committee on proposed changes to municipal elections

    ​On May 12, 2016, OPSBA President Michael Barrett presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Bill 181, Municipal Elections Modernization Act, 2016. “The changes being sought in this proposed legislation are, for the most part, a step in the right direction to ensuring we have a vibrant, engaging democratic process in…

  • Stable Funding Supports a Strong Publicly Funded Education System

    Toronto, March 29, 2011 – The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) views today’s budget announcement related to education funding as positive evidence of the provincial government’s continued commitment to the value of a strong publicly funded education system.In 2011-12, Grants for Student Needs funding will be $21 billion – the per-pupil amount will be…

  • Services to newcomer children and their families compromised

    Toronto, February 25, 2011 – The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is hard pressed to understand the decisions made by the federal government with respect to cuts in funding to Ontario’s settlement sector. As the provincial organization representing more than 1.2 million students and their families, these drastic cuts compromise and destabilize our capacity…

  • The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) welcomes the Bell Let’s Talk campaign

    ​Toronto, February 8, 2011 -“We commend Bell for taking corporate leadership in beginning a national and very vital conversation about mental health through its Let’s Talk campaign,” said Catherine Fife, president of OPSBA. “OPSBA advocates particularly for conditions that support student mental health and well-being; these are also the conditions that promote student success in…

  • Flexibility in Options is Essential

    ​Toronto, December 15, 2010 -The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association wholeheartedly embraces the fundamental importance of full-day early learning. It is a commitment to the children of the province to provide a solid foundation for success in school and in life. “School boards are committed to providing high quality, accessible and affordable extended day programs…

  • Honouring Shannen’s Dream

    ​Toronto, November 16, 2010 – Shannen Koostachin was a youth leader in Attawapiskat. She came to national attention through her struggle to get the federal government to build a school in her James Bay community. Last May, Shannen died in a tragic road accident. For eight years the children of Attawapiskat had been going to…

  • Lessons in Local Democracy

    ​Toronto, October 14, 2010 -Canadians have been electing their peers to local school boards for more than two hundred years. Local school trustees are our neighbours. They come from all walks of life. They are parents, business people, professionals, tradespeople, and homemakers. They have, without exception, taken on the role because they want to make…

  • The Debate on Banning Cell Phones Misses the Mark

    Toronto, September 16, 2010 -“In a very real sense our challenge is not about machines and devices; it is about what learning should look like in the 21st century classroom,” said Catherine Fife, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA). “For young people today learning occurs in a wider space and time. How…

  • The Public Education System in Ontario is World Class

    ​Toronto, September 10, 2010 – On February 1, 1990, ABC World News Tonight aired a five-minute newscast on “The Best School System in the World” which featured Ontario and was viewed by 20 million viewers all over North America. Bill Blakemore, a reporter for ABC News, said that, “In Toronto, Ontario, the school system is…

  • OPSBA joins Peel Board in asking the federal government to extend deadline for matching school donations

    Toronto, September 7, 2010 – With more than one-fifth of Pakistan flooded, and 17 million people affected, the area has become a major focus of worldwide humanitarian relief efforts. According to the Government of Pakistan, more than 1,600 people have died. Millions of homes and livelihoods have been obliterated and 70 percent of roads and…

  • Bruce Stonefish elected as First Nations Director to OPSBA

    Toronto, September 1, 2010 – The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is pleased to announce that Bruce Stonefish, a trustee with the Lambton Kent District School Board, has been elected as the Association’s First Nations Director. Bruce will be supported in his role as First Nations Director by Grace Fox, a trustee from Rainbow…