Opening Statement



Friday 30 September 2011

What Conservative Election Debates?!?

With a big election issue, like tax cuts and the service cuts that will inevitably follow, it is wise to ask three things: Are they realistic? Are they practical? And are they measurable? Unfortunately, as we have seen in the Toronto mayoral race where Rob Ford promised to provide a balanced budget by "stopping the gravy train" it didn't make any sense whatsoever. Now Toronto is tens of millions of dollars in debt and facing severe service cuts. These could affect, daycare, libraries, policing, and snow removal. The list goes on and on.
Tim Hudak of the Ontario Conservatives is promising to "cut the excesses" to balance our provincial budget by simply "eliminating efficiencies". How credible is this? He has promised not to cut education or health care, which is 70% of the total spending.
How is he going to perform this incredible balancing act? Our teachers want to know. Wouldn't it make sense to talk to us, since we are actually in the classrooms providing our province's educational services? Duh.
Both the Liberals and the NDP are in constant dialogue with all the the teacher associations in Ontario. They have been since before 2003. Even when we disagree, as is inevitable, we still meet to talk, because it is our students and schools that are at stake in any decisions that are made. This did not happen with the Harris Conservative government from 1995-2003. Unfortunately it is not and has not been happening for the last two years or so since Tim Hudak became Conservative leader.
This is not fear mongering on behalf of our teachers. Do the math. His numbers do not add up. Most frightening of all, he refuses to even discuss what he plans to do or how he plans to do it, outside of the most glibberish of glittering generalities to be found in his so called "Changebook" platform.
OECTA has provided it's members with a frank update on the situation in it's September 29th "Speak For Children" update. You should receive an email copy from your staff rep, or local unit office, depending on how you forward these missives in your OECTA unit.

 A lot of our teachers, and indeed concerned parents and community members as well, are feeling very frustrated. The reality of the situation is that most of the Conservative candidates are even refusing to attend the local riding debates to answer any questions with the election less than a week away.
Wake up Ontario before it is too late! The well being of our excellent education system is at stake. Be prepared to take a big bite of the Tory apple should the Hudak Conservatives win next week's Ontario Provincial election! It's happened in 1995 to 2003, and now it could happen again. Get involved. Help out an education friendly candidate today. Call your local OECTA unit office for more information. It's still not too late to do your part!

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