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.
|