For immediate release:
April 10, 2008

Savoline Challenges Premier to Make Good on
Election Promise to Keep Rural Schools Open

(Queen’s Park) – In the Ontario Legislature today PC MPP and Opposition Critic for Education Joyce Savoline challenged Premier McGuinty to fulfill his election promise to students and their families in rural and Northern Ontario.

On September 18, 2007 Premier McGuinty said, “For rural kids, few things are more important than being able to go to school in your own community, with your own friends. Rural schools help keep communities strong, which is why we’re not only committed to keeping them open, but strengthening them.” The Premier made these comments in Newburgh, Ontario during a campaign stop to promise an additional $550 million designated specifically for rural schools.

“What possible justification could the McGuinty Government have for allowing the closure of rural schools across the province of Ontario mere months after they promised to invest in these same rural schools in order to avoid this very scenario” asked Savoline? 

Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynne made it very clear in the Ontario Legislature today that her government has already invested in rural schools and that it was the responsibility of the Boards of Education to make the right choices.

“If the Minister of Education had done her due diligence, fixed the funding formula as she had promised to do, and established minimum standards for school closures that identify special circumstances in rural areas, then perhaps her Boards of Education would not have had to interpret the Minister’s intentions.  I find it hard to believe that Minister Wynne, herself a parent, can justify young children enduring a 3 hour a day, 5 day a week bus ride when adequate funding supposedly exists to avoid this travesty” stated Savoline.

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For more information:

Amy M. Ball
Office of Joyce Savoline, MPP

416-325-5362