July 23, 1996
(Education)
 

The following was read today in the House of Assembly by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education, at the Introduction of a Bill to Amend the Schools Act and the Education Act:

Last week the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs presented the final report of a series of hearings which it held to consider the request of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to amend Term 17 of the Canadian Constitution. I was very pleased to learn that the committee has recommended that the Senate approve the resolution to amend Term 17 which has already received the approval of this House and of the House of Commons.

It is particularly gratifying that the Senate Committee concluded that the process the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador used to generate the amendment was fair. The committee report states that: "Each of the protected minorities whose rights would be affected were afforded full opportunities to participate in the public debate leading up to this amendment, including the hearings before the Royal Commission on Education, the referendum and the general election of 1996".

The process which the government of this province has followed to reform the organization of our education system has been long and detailed.

  • The reorganization was recommended by a Royal Commission following extensive public debate and research. The commission made its recommendations in March of 1992.
  • Government attempted for three years to negotiate a model for reorganization with the church leaders.
  • The question of amending Term 17 was the subject of public debate and a provincial referendum, held on September 5 of 1995.
  • A general election was held on February 22 of 1996 during which the platform of the current government with respect to education reform was clearly stated.
  • This House on two occasions, by resolution, requested the Federal Parliament to amend Term 17. The second time, on May 23, 1996, the provincial legislature unanimously reaffirmed its wish to have the Federal Parliament proceed with the necessary resolution.
  • On June 3, 1996 the House of Commons, by a significant majority (170 - 46) voted to amend Term 17 as requested by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • The Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs has now recommended that the Senate pass the resolution to amend Term 17.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Senate of Canada will reconvene before the end of September. Nonetheless, a new school year is quickly approaching and it is necessary for us to move on and to commence the long awaited reforms. The process of reform has been long and arduous and it has created a sense of uncertainty amongst our students, parents, teachers, and school board administrators. We must act responsibly to remove this uncertainty and to re-establish a sense of stability for those who learn and teach in our schools. We must re-establish the high degree of confidence which has been the hallmark of our schools over the years.

Given the fact that there has been a high level of concurrence to the creation of 10 interdenominational boards and a provincial school construction board and the fact that the amendment to Term 17 has passed in the House of Assembly, in the House of Commons, and has been recommended by the Senate Committee, we have decided to proceed immediately rather than risk another year of delay.

We are confident that the people of the province and educational organizations will see this as an appropriate and necessary move if we are to proceed with our much needed education reforms. Representatives of the denominations which hold rights in education under the current Term 17, and the various stakeholders in education have stated publicly that they support government's plan to create 10 interdenominational school boards, and a school construction board.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

The Bill which this House is asked to consider today will provide for the following:

  • the division of the province into 10 school districts
  • the creation of 10 interdenominational school boards consisting of 18 members, 12 of whom shall represent the denominations and 6 of whom shall be "at large"
  • the authority for the minister to dissolve the existing school boards
  • the authority for the Lieutenant Governor in Council to appoint interim school boards which will exist until the next general election of school boards which is scheduled for the fall of 1997
  • the authority to establish denominational committees for each board
  • the continuation of all existing schools for the 1996/97 school year
  • the creation of a provincial school construction board which will distribute school construction funds on the basis of provincial priorities
  • the establishment of a provincial commission scolaire francophone

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the majority of people of this province are anxious to build an education system that is fair and equitable for each and every student. The proposed reforms will alter the rights in education which are presently held by the denominations, and will move some of the rights currently exercised by the denominational authorities to the elected representatives. All schools will continue to be denominational in character and all students will continue to have the opportunity to participate in religious education, observances and celebrations at their school.

In summary, the passage of this Bill will ensure that education reform in Newfoundland and Labrador will proceed in a timely fashion. It is imperative that in these times of rapidly declining enrollment and increasingly scarce resources, the current complex system with its duplication of school boards, administrative offices, and schools be fundamentally redesigned for educational excellence and fiscal responsibility. The children of the province deserve no less.

1996 07 23 2:35 p.m.

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