02) DEFEAT THE LIBERALS’ “CREATE A CRISIS” ATTACK ON EDUCATION

            Premier Kathleen Wynn has adopted the “create a crisis” strategy of the Harris Tories, demanding the closure and sale of 25% of public schools in Toronto, and the dismantling of the Toronto District School Board.  The Board must prove compliance by Feb. 13, or face a provincial take-over.

            There are currently 133 schools at or below 65% enrolment, though TDSB enrolment projections put most of them well over that figure in 10 years.  But the schools are fully utilized now, with child care centres, parent and family services, adult education, community services, settlement services, parks and recreation. Closing and selling the schools will leave important programs and public services homeless, and neighbourhoods without schools. The largest percentage of proposed closures are in the poorest neightbourhoods in Toronto.

            The Liberals’ “shock and awe” attack is intended to paralyze voters, just 90 days after the new Board was elected with a progressive majority. Voters clearly opposed the government’s long-standing demands that the TDSB sell off schools, land and assets built up over decades for the benefit of children, youth and communities – past, present and future. At every opportunity, the public has opposed the province’s directives, including to undermine local democracy and dismantle the Board.

            The Premier’s real concern is that the largest School Board in Canada, backed by the public, will refuse to sell off assets, privatize services, and cut education transfers – and instead demand a needs-based funding formula .

            But the only proposals for funding in the provincial budget are to freeze public sector wages and cut education transfers by $500 million this year, resulting in more layoffs, and the elimination of even more services.

            The government intends to do the same to School Boards across the province; that is, to remove all of their remaining responsibilities, and then to eliminate locally elected and accountable Public School Boards altogether.  Local democracy and autonomy are in the cross-hairs.

            The Communist Party (Ontario) demands that the government immediately withdraw the Minister’s January 16 directives to the TDSB, and:

* deliver a needs-based funding formula for education in Ontario

* provide capital funding for school repairs and new builds

* respect local democracy and autonomy

* eliminate the public sector wage freeze

* create one secular public school system open to all!

(The above article is from the February 15-28, 2015 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)