Legislative Update

Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019

On June 5, 2019, the Ontario government introduced Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Service for Future Generations Act, 2019. The legislation proposes to cap public sector wage hikes to an average of 1% per year for the next three years.

Second Reading debate began October 28 and on October 31 Bill 124 passed Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.The Committee met on November 4 for public hearings on the Bill and will meet again on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 for clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.

OCSTA Comments on EDCs

By Stephen Andrews, Director of Legislative and Political Affairs

Funding for the capital related costs associated with new school construction is a key priority for OCSTA. School capital projects are funded by the province through a specific ministry approvals process and capital grants. Land acquisition costs are not funded through the same process. Boards that are undergoing residential growth in their jurisdictions and requiring new schools to be built rely largely on funds generated by Education Development Charges (or EDCs) for land acquisition.

The siting and development of schools is crucial to the long-term success of local communities. Throughout the province, Catholic schools serve as centres of faith formation, excellence in academic and co-curricular achievement and hubs for community use.

OCSTA recently commented on matters related to EDCs and the land acquisition in our submission on Bill 108: More Homes, More Choices Act, 2019. OCSTA continues to emphasize that current legislative amendments do not address the financial deficits boards now face in their EDC accounts as a result of regulatory changes made during 2018. In some cases, these deficits have imposed costly delays on key capital projects.

OCSTA has developed a joint submission with the Ontario Association of School Business Officials, the Ontario Public School Board Association and the Ontario Association of Catholic School Business Officials to outline our jointly held concerns.

Central Terms Ratified for CUPE Collective Agreement

NEWS RELEASE

TORONTO, November 4, 2019—The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association is pleased to announce the ratification of central terms for a new three-year collective agreement with CUPE and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions.

“The agreement reached reflects the committed efforts of all involved to ensure the well-being of students and the dedicated members of CUPE who serve in Catholic Schools throughout Ontario,” explained Patrick Daly, Past President and Labour Chair for OCSTA.

OCSTA continues central negotiations with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association and other unions representing education workers in Catholic school boards.
The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association is the provincial voice for Catholic education. Founded in 1930, OCSTA represents all English Catholic school boards and collectively educates 550,000 students in Ontario, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Student Short-Video Contest

Featured video above is the 2018 elementary school first place winner – “Community Builder” submitted by Iona Academy, CDSB of Eastern Ontario.

A reminder to all that submissions are currently being received for OCSTA’s annual short-video contest for students in grades 4 through 12 at Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools. The theme for the 2019 short-video contest is:

In Pope Francis’ post-synodal exhortation – Christus Vivi – the Holy Father states:

“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life”

We are a people of hope and that hope is rooted in the love of Jesus Christ. This year we invite Catholic school students to create 2-minute videos to help communities across Ontario to see and experience how that hope is brought to life in Catholic schools.

Submission Guidelines and Form

The contest is open to all students in grades 4 – 12 at Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools.

Students are invited to prepare a 2-minute video that shows how Catholic schools are places where young people encounter the Holy Spirit and ignite hope through the love of Christ.

The video should be uploaded to YouTube where it can be viewed and evaluated for the contest. The unique URL (web address) created by YouTube when a video file is uploaded is to be recorded on the OCSTA short-video contest submission form.

The submission deadline is December 10, 2019. The submission form can be downloaded here.

Prizes:

First place: $300 Best Buy Gift Certificate
Second place: $150 Best Buy Gift Certificate
Third place: $100 Indigo Gift Certificate.

First, second and third place prizes will be awarded at both the Elementary and Secondary panels. The winners will be announced in January.

We thank the students, teachers and trustees of all CDSBs for their support of this contest which celebrates the achievements of publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario.