Hampton scolds Liberals for cuts to school funds

News Release
Howard Hampton

FORT FRANCES - NDP Leader Howard Hampton says the McGuinty Liberals failure to address the funding inadequacies in Ontario’s education system has caused at least 11 Northern school boards to cut their budgets, which will have a significant negative impact on students learning and delivery of educational services in the North. “The halls of Northern schools will soon be as empty as McGuinty’s promises,” said Hampton. “After three years of McGuinty Liberals, our students are still losing their local schools, educational assistants and specialized programs,” said Hampton. “Dalton McGuinty promised to scrap the Conservative education funding formula, but it’s still here and it’s still not working.” In 1998 the Conservative government established an education funding formula to allocate money to school boards. The formula has been flawed from day one - and the problems are getting worse. Despite promises from the McGuinty Liberals the province has not overhauled the formula that is leading to a budget crunch in boards across Ontario. Hampton said some of the deepest cuts are happening in Northern Ontario. The funding formula penalizes Northern Boards for their declining enrolment and funding has not increased to meet the needs of school boards. For example, heating and utility costs have increased by 12 to 15 per cent. Some Northern boards have abandoned educational programs and services that serve the unique local needs of their communities. As a consequence, the following school boards are being forced to make cuts: Algoma DSB, DSB Ontario North East, Keewatin Patricia DSB, Superior Greenstone DSB, Huron Superior DSB, Northwest Catholic DSB, Superior North Catholic, DSB, Rainy River DSB, CSD Catholique des Grand Rivieres and CSD Catholique des Aurore Borleales. “Students shouldn’t have to lose programs or see their school closed because Dalton McGuinty broke his promise,” said Hampton. “It’s time for the McGuinty Liberals to keep their promise and fix the education funding formula.”