Raising Awareness for Critical Education Issues
OPSBA Advocacy Days are opportunities to re-introduce OPSBA’s priorities to the government and opposition parties. They play an integral role in our overall advocacy strategy by elevating general awareness of key challenges.
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2023 Advocacy Day
OPSBA held its 2023 Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park on November 27, with more than 40 Board of Directors members and designates attending nearly 45 meetings throughout the day with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) from across Ontario, representing all parties in the Legislature. The purpose of OPSBA’s Advocacy Days are to re-introduce OPSBA and its priorities to the government and the opposition parties. It is also an opportunity to increase and elevate the overall awareness of the Association and its advocacy efforts. Trustees attended Question Period in the morning, with many MPPs introducing their local trustees to the House by name. In the evening, a reception was held for MPPs and their staff. OPSBA provided four handouts to each MPP, supporting our recent Grants for Student Needs (GSN) submission:
- Indigenous Education
- Education Funding (Mental Health Supports; Special Education; Student Transportation)
- School Capital and Facilities
- GSN Executive Summary
OPSBA Advocacy Day News Release: Supporting Students and Public Education in Ontario
Photos from the day are available on our Google Drive.
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2022 Advocacy Day
OPSBA’s November 2022 Advocacy Day was a tremendous success. Board of Directors members and student trustees spent the day at Queen’s Park attending Question Period, meeting with their local MPPs, and participating in the evening reception. In total, OPSBA representatives met with over 50 MPP offices either in meetings or at the reception. This includes meetings with the Minister of Education, the two Parliamentary Assistants, and the education critics from the New Democratic Party, the Ontario Liberal Party and the Green Party of Ontario.
This year’s MPP package included handouts that focused on:
The day began with OPSBA and Nanos Research releasing new survey data regarding several public education issues ranging from education funding to curriculum, special education, equity, and governance. Presenting the information was OPSBA President Cathy Abraham, Indigenous Trustees’ Council Chair Elaine Johnston and Nik Nanos.
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2021 Advocacy Day
OPSBA secured a series of meetings for OPSBA’s Executive Council to participate with one provincial party caucus at a time over Zoom. Joining the Executive Council were representatives from the Indigenous Trustee’s Council and provincial student trustee leaders. The meetings were an hour in length and included two agenda items: 2021-22 Education Funding and The Future of Public Education.
The purpose of OPSBA’s Virtual Advocacy Day meetings was to re-introduce OPSBA and its priorities to the government and the opposition parties. It was also an opportunity to increase and elevate the overall awareness of the Association and its advocacy efforts. We also encouraged trustees to reach out to their local MPP(s) to set up a phone call or virtual meeting during the first 2021 constituency week, which occured March 15 to 18, 2021. OPSBA staff have developed a PowerPoint slide deck that could be used.
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2019 Advocacy Day
More than 50 public school board trustees and student trustees from all regions of the province were in Toronto on November 25, 2019, to take part in OPSBA’s second Advocacy Day. The day began with a news conference that released the results of polling and research done in partnership with Nanos Research. This initiative bolstered OPSBA’s advocacy position on key issues, such as the importance of investment in public education, Indigenous Education, curriculum, mental health supports and the importance of electing trustees.
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2019 Advocacy Day
On April 8, 2019, OPSBA Executive Council members and senior staff participated in the Association’s first Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park.
OPSBA Advocacy Day provided an opportunity for OPSBA representatives to build on collaborative relationships with provincial stakeholders – both MPPs and political staff.
OPSBA Advocacy Day featured meetings and conversations with all four political parties – the Progressive Conservatives, New Democrats, Liberals and Greens. President Abraham and Executive Director Rusty Hick also met with staff from the Premier’s Office, the Ministries of Education and Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Treasury Board Secretariat.