FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2017
SIMCOE – Just two days before students enter Our Lady of LaSalette for the final time, the government announced a new plan to support rural and northern schools by revamping the school closure process, providing a new fund to support these schools and encouraging investments in Internet technology to create more learning opportunities.
For several months, the Official Opposition has been calling for a moratorium on school closures until the review process was revamped. A motion to this effect was voted down by the governing party. The announcement is now being made in the wake of the current government closing 700 schools during its mandate – the largest number in the history of the province.
““The Ontario PCs are proud to have led the charge against the government’s arbitrary and cold-hearted school closures,” said Opposition Leader Patrick Brown. “But this week’s announcement does nothing for schools in cities throughout the province that remain on the chopping block, including schools that service students with special needs and schools that are operating at nearly 100 per cent capacity.”
Haldimand-Norfolk hasn’t been immune with the closure, and the threat of closure, of many schools at both the secondary and elementary level.
“I attended the closing ceremonies in LaSalette recently,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett. “It was an emotional affair, as the heart is being ripped out of their community. It’s no coincidence this announcement comes with an election less than a year away, and after much of the damage has been done.”
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org