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Legislative Update – October 5, 2022

2022 10/5 | Connects Page, Education Finance, Elections, Federal Issues, Indigenous Education Updates, Ontario Newsroom, OPSBA News, Provincial Updates

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario remains adjourned with Members of Provincial Parliament returning to Queen’s Park on October 25, 2022.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2022, marked the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is also Orange Shirt Day. To commemorate and honour this day, OPSBA coordinated a series of actions that included website resources and an overview of school board activities. Reflection videos from Indigenous Trustees’ Council of OPSBA Chair Elaine Johnston, Algoma DSB, Indigenous Student Trustee Nevaeh Pine, and OPSBA President Cathy Abraham are available on our YouTube channel.

The OESC has an important professional development module for school boards called A Journey Towards Truth and Reconciliation. All are encouraged to view the two PD videos.

To view the government’s statement, visit Ontario Commemorates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

REMINDER: Municipal and School Board Elections – Diverse Voices, Diverse Leadership and Equity in Public Office and Education: A Zoom Panel Discussion

On October 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is hosting a panel discussion on Zoom, moderated by Globe and Mail education journalist Caroline Alphonso, and featuring the following elected and formerly elected officials: Peggy Nash, former MP, Parkdale-High Park; Suzanne Nurse, former Trustee, Peel District School Board; Kristin Murray, Mayor, City of Timmins; and Steve Anderson, Deputy Mayor, Town of Shelbourne.

The conversation will be wide-ranging and cover the following:

  • The importance of running for public office with a focus on individuals and leaders from diverse and equity-deserving communities
  • Barriers to running for public office
  • Past campaign and on-the-job experience of panelists
  • Tips for new candidates that they could use in their campaigns, especially for those who are racialized, marginalized and/or are unsure, intimidated or politically overwhelmed as to how things actually work on the ground from a campaign perspective

To register, please visit Diverse Voices, Diverse Leadership and Equity in Public Office and Education. Registration is limited to the first 485 registrants.

This panel is being hosted in support of OPSBA’s ongoing work and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all areas of the education system, including the democratic elections of school board trustees.

Voting Information

Election Day for Municipal Council and School Boards is Monday, October 24, 2022 and individuals are entitled to three hours in which to vote on voting day. Many municipalities have begun to share information about Advance Voting Days and may also offer voting options such as vote by mail or vote by internet. Municipalities are also required to provide a voting place in certain retirement homes and long-term care facilities.

When you arrive to vote in person, you must show identification to prove that you are the person whose name appears on the voters’ list. The identification must show your name and address. For a full list of acceptable documentation, visit Acceptable documents for voter identification.

The voters’ list for each municipal election is prepared from data kept by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). To check if MPAC has your information in its database, visit Voter Lookup.

Rowan’s Law Day – September 28, 2022

The last Wednesday of each September has been designated as Rowan’s Law Day to help raise awareness about concussion safety. Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed.) The government enacted Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety) in 2018 and amended the Education Act, to protect amateur athletes, including students, by improving concussion safety on the field and at school. PPM 158 requires school boards to create policies regarding concussions.

OPSBA recognized Rowan’s Law Day on social media, including on Twitter.

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