1) Ontario Introduces Strategy To Halve Timelines For Building Schools

Courtesy of Barrie360.com and Canadian Press Published: Dec 11th, 2023

Brampton

Ontario’s education minister says he is introducing a new process for building schools that will cut timelines in half.

Stephen Lecce says the average time it takes to build a school is between four and seven years, which is too long to meet the needs of Ontario’s quickly growing population.

He says the new strategy includes standardizing designs of new schools, to cut down on planning time, and reducing approval timelines.

Lecce says the province will prioritize projects that are “shovel ready,” and that have realistic costs and timelines.

Ontario has earmarked about $15 billion over 10 years for new school construction.

Lecce says the last time the process was “meaningfully overhauled” was more than a decade ago. 

2) Ontario Ombudsman To Probe Ministry Of Education Payments To Students, Parents

Courtesy of Barrie360.com and Canadian PressPublished: Dec 11th, 2023

Toronto

Ontario’s ombudsman says his office has launched an investigation into the province’s direct payment programs for students and parents.

Paul Dubé says there are concerns about a lack of fairness and transparency.

The Ministry of Education has given out six payments since 2020 under different programs to give parents financial support.

Dubé says his office has heard “disturbing” accounts from parents who were denied funding for their children.

He says some sole-custody parents and others with restraining orders against the other were denied funding because the other parent had claimed and received the payments.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the province is working with the ombudsman, but says the programs have helped support 1.8 million students.