The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

' Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, April 30, as 13 'Tough choices in education, writes Snobelen To The Editor: for other provinces, we school trustees, school To give school boards introduced in other support the private sector's. As Ontario's Education could save close to $1 board officials and // additional time, it was provinces and warrant role in training. We will and Training Minister, I billion annually. teachers, and I was' necessary to putin place a study. I expect a report on work in co-operation with recently announced a Here's another pleased to receive many one-year moratorium on this in the fall. the Ministry of Economiq strategy, and introduced perspective. The "School positive suggestions on new school capital projects We must bring provincial Development and Trade ) legislation, to help school boards in our province bring education spending under control and achieve savings of $400 million in 1996-97. Being of considerable public interest, this announce- ment has prompted widespread editorial opinion, and by this letter I hope to clarify and Board Restructuring Task Force" - - which was commissioned by the previous NDP government, and headed by a former Liberal cabinet minister - has indicated in its recent public report that 47 per cent (roughly $6.7 billion) of all education dollars spent in Ontario are directed towards items how to accomplish the necessary savings. I heard three clear messages. First, people told me they believe that education davings ¢an indeed be achieved without com- promising education quality, and that it's vitally important for Ontario to bring its education spending into line with for 1996-97. Not all new school projects are affected by the moratorium. Still proceeding will be projects already under construction at the time of the announcement, and also projects funding through the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Works Program as well as many related to health and spending under control, or we risk a dismal future wherein the publig se, that we all enjoy today might not bé available tomorrow. We are not going to cheat our children by continuing down the' path of economic ruin. To this end, we recently released the ministry's business plan that details 'alle and Tourism to improve the efficiency of 'the: province's training system. Our government's top priority is to get our Province back on track financially... to restore our. fiscal integrity so we call joy the diverse benefits which flow from a healthy economy. ' We have tough choices to further comment on the "outside the classroom"... other provinces. Secondly, safety. how we intend 'to make today, because the Ontario government's on expenditures such as Ontario taxpayers said Prior_"to the last streamlifle * Ontario's past two previous intentions. school: board admin- there must be an 'provincial electidn, the _ education and training governments, refused to First, I wish to point out istration, transportation, opportunity to develop former NDP governmenit system . make them yesterday. But that $400 million savings, and custodial mainten- cost-saving solutions over-stretched the [For example, we with all of us working which will be found ance. The report locally. And third, they - provincial purse by etermined that Ontario together, I am very through changes operating recommends that non- emphasized that while announcing a $1.6 billion needs a more focused, confident we can ensure an' as well as capital grants, classroom expenditures these matters need to be worth of new school simplified and cost- education system in represent only, approximately three per made by school boards "be limited to 40 per cent of urgently addressed, we must allow time to ensure projects even though these projects were not efficient training system to provide Ontarians with the , Ontario that is excellent, accountable and cent of the $14 billion their total budgets". This that we maintain quality realistically affordable. skills and knowledge they affordable. spent eachy year on in itself would reduce total programming for our They were simply an need to find and keep jobs, John C. Snobelen, education in Ontario. Once education expenditures in students. attempt to garner local to fogfen business Minister of Education the savings from the Ontarig by about $1 billion My decisions for realizing votes. developmént and to and Training Ontario. capital moratorium are each year. the $400 million savings During the moratorium, I y - included, the reductions to Cuyrently, Ontario school are based on three goals: will be i ing a review -T operating budgets are only boards annually spend classroom funding should to develo recommen- an average of 1.8 per cent. approximately $890 be protected, opportunities dations or alternate Thanks for support The need to maintain million on board should be provided for local financing options for new . and improve quality administnation, $600 decision-making and school construction. A To the Editor; like to thank you all for education programming million on transportation, locally negotiated number of innovative To those people on #12 your * generous while bringing our and $1.2, billion on solutions, and local taxes approaches, such as Highway who donated to contributions. spending into line with custodial and maintenance . should not be increased. shared facilities and lease- the Kidney Foundation Vallie Lovering other provinces is clear. services. Few can argue The measures I've backs from private of Canada I would again Port Perry Ontario spends close to $1 that significant savings announced give local developers, have been ot billion mare (or about $500 outside the classroom are school boards greater . per child more) on not possible. flexibility and provide , education than the For several months them with additional time average of the other leading up to my to make the necessary provinces, without any significant difference in academic results. In other words, if education spending in Ontario were the same as the average ~~ aring for Childre ™ 18 months to 9 ycars Utica Taogdlers & Pre-Schoolers * Flexible to your needs * JK & SK Programme announcement, | met with parents, Students and taxpayers as well as with COUNTRY CABLE PORT PERRY TEL ATTENTION ... We will match any advedised price to install Telephone Jacks and Cable Outlets in your Office, Home or Apartment. It's your choice, adjustments. And, they also ensure and enhance local accountability. NOW THE PRICE IS UNBEATABLE, TOO. A TORO for just . by the hour or $25, Per Outlet. DayCare Speciolizing in Installation & Repair 9 for - Inside Telephone Wiring - Mini Satelite Systems [] Reg. price $469. * Beforafter School pare for as Itfie as ) MODEL 20443 2" busing Epsom & Port Perry, * Homc-cooked meals 39 95 , RECYCLER® MOWER * Piano lessons ) "+ The new Toro Recycler" mower * French language circles PER MONTH you want is now within reach m's Best Kept Secret" A \ . 18" DISH * Toro patented Kickers UTICA DAYCARE ... way... Accelerators chop clippings into *"fipe pieces, giving you a clean, healthy lawn your child's home away from home \_(905) 985-8783 .4.5 hp Toro GTS engine gudraniced 10 start on, the Ist or 2nd pull for 2 years. JL) HI When you want it done right. *Savings subject 10 local dealer option. See dealer for etait - 15ee dealer for details on this limited warranty COUNTRY (VI '$4, 200. 00 PM and 10:3( Saturday and Sunday 1:00 PM Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday NOV 5 POINTS MALL Ritson & Taunt © 1996 The Togh Company NACH "ann to Sund PM Ie AY PAY BY OR SAN @ AY) So n Road n, Ontario LOB 1] 136-1386 2:30 PM OSHAWA KE 9404 Hampton 263-8469