Members of Provincial Parliament return to Queen’s Park on June 16, after having a constituency week last week. This will be the first of semi-regular summer sittings. On June 8, Premier Doug Ford announced that much of Ontario, outside of the GTA, Haldimand-Norfolk, Niagara, Windsor-Essex and the Lambton/Sarnia area, would be moving to Stage 2 of the reopening process as of 12:01 a.m. on June 12. Stage 2 allows more businesses to reopen and more recreational activities to take place. In addition, the province has increased the limit on social gatherings from five to 10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2, and introduced social circles with a maximum of 10 individuals today. To create a safe social circle, the following steps should be taken:
On June 9, the government announced that child care centres across the province, regardless of whether they are in a region that has moved to Stage 2, would be permitted to reopen as of June 12. The plan will require child care operators to follow strict health protocols to assist in keeping child care staff and children safe.
Child care operational guidelines
On June 6, the provincial government extended all emergency orders to June 19, 2020, including those that enable frontline care providers to redeploy staff, allow public health units to redeploy or hire staff to support case management and contact tracing, and prohibit long-term care and retirement home employees from working at more than one home or for another health service provider. Education-specific emergency orders have been issued. The government originally declared a provincial emergency on March 17 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This declaration of emergency was recently extended and is currently in effect until June 30.
Electronic Meetings
Amendments were made on June 5 to Ontario Regulation 463/97 Electronic Meetings to ensure that trustees do not lose their seats for missing three in-person meetings in a 12-month period in the context of the coronavirus pandemic or future similar situations where all schools of a board are closed for at least two months. The requirements in the Education Act for in-person meeting attendance were also moved to the regulation.
Ministry memo re electronic meetings – May 29, 2020
Extension of Instalment Due Dates
Ontario Regulation 249/20 was filed on June 1, 2020, and supports the earlier changes that stem from Bill 188, Economic and Fiscal Update Act, 2020. That legislation allowed municipalities to defer their payments to school boards of education property taxes. This regulation provides school boards with extended installment payment dates to the ministry.
Ontario Education Services Corporation’s (OESC’s) Trustee Professional Development Program
(OESC) offers an online https://modules.ontarioschooltrustees.org/ designed to support trustees in their governance role. As we transition into the summer months and boards continue to manage unprecedented challenges, we invite you to complete the program. The https://modules.ontarioschooltrustees.org/ will allow you to track your progress through the modules – each one has been recently updated with the latest legislation, education policy and research. When you’ve completed the program, you may apply for a Certificate of Completion. OESC will certify eligible trustees in recognition of their commitment to leadership and the good governance of Ontario’s education system.
Other information
- June 12, 2020 News Release – Ontarians Encouraged to Establish Social Circles
- June 12, 2020 News Release – Ontario Supports Children and Youth during COVID-19
- June 11, 2020 News Release – Ontario Appoints New Patient Ombudsman
- June 10, 2020 News Release – Ontario Unveils a Plan to Reopen Postsecondary Education
- June 8, 2020 Statemen – Minister of Education Releases Investigator’s Report on the Peel District School Board
