February 1, 2012

 

I have received correspondence recently from constituents regarding Bill 13 – Accepting Schools Act. Let me offer some thoughts.

 

I believe that creating a safe and positive learning environment is essential to help our children succeed. As such, I am confident we can all agree that bullying is not acceptable in our schools.

 

Our government takes the issue of bullying very seriously. Many of my colleagues in Opposition do also. Since 2003, our government’s safe schools initiatives have made an impact toward reducing bullying. This new legislation will continue on that path.

 

Under Bill 13, we will require every board to support students who want to establish and lead activities or organizations that promote gender equity and anti-racism, as well as promoting respect for people regardless of disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.  (This mirrors language, by the way, which is already enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Human Rights Code.)

 

In this way, we’re doing more than just telling bullied kids it will get better someday – we are working together to make it better now.

 

I am proud of our leadership on this issue. The Accepting Schools Act will make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada where bullying is an offense for which expulsion may be considered – but it also requires schools to ensure those who bully others get the help and support they require. At the heart of the Accepting Schools Act is a commitment to education with dignity and respect for all.

 

Discrimination against gay and lesbian youth deserves special mention, since they are among the groups who are most often bullied. Fundamentally this is a human rights abuse.  It’s time we took action to end it.

 

Some have suggested to me that this stand is incompatible with religious values. With respect I must disagree. As a person of faith, I have always believed that every human being carries a divine spark. I believe one goal of religious conviction must be to affirm the dignity and worth of every person.

 

I am proud our government is moving forward with Bill 13. There is widespread support from students and progressive educators in all school systems for focusing on the elimination of bullying behaviour, the protection of children being bullied and the provision of assistance to both the bullied and the bully.

 

I anticipate all-party support for this legislation when it comes up for third reading. It is the right thing to do for our children.

 

 

McGuinty Government Assumes Costs of Court Security

 

 

January 16, 2012

 

 

Ontario is providing the City of Hamilton with funding for court security and the transportation of prisoners.  Beginning this year, Ontario will pay these costs, which will save municipalities up to $125 million per year by 2018. This will give municipalities the ability to invest these funds into local priorities. 

 

The Province will provide the City of Hamilton $704,948.37 this year in the first phase of the program to upload court security costs. 

 

 

QUOTES

 

“We’re pleased to honour our commitment to pay for court security and prisoner transportation to help make things a bit easier for our municipal partners. We will continue to support Ontario municipalities as they try to find new and more efficient ways to deliver services and keep our communities safe.”

—     Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

 

“By working in partnership, the Ontario government and municipalities have realized many accomplishments in recent years, highlighted by the Provincial Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review (PMFSDR). This joint initiative resulted in a consensus agreement under which the province committed to upload a number of municipal costs. Provincial uploads have provided municipalities with more flexibility to use property tax dollars to invest in local priorities, such as infrastructure and economic development.”

— Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale

 

"We welcome the province's support of court security and prisoner transportation costs.  It's a very positive step and we thank the Ministry.”
— Glenn De Caire, Chief, Hamilton Police Services

 

 

QUICK FACTS

 

  

·  The McGuinty government’s upload of court security costs is being phased-in over    seven years.

 

·  Provincial funding will reach a maximum of $125 million per year by 2018.

 

·  These costs had been downloaded by the Province to municipalities in 1990.

 

 

 

  

LEARN MORE

 

Fact sheet on cost security cost upload

 

Ontario partnering with municipalities to strengthen communities

 

 

Contact:

 

Ted McMeekin, MPP Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, 905-690-6552

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 12, 2012

 

Students in Hamilton and across Ontario can now apply to get 30 per cent off the cost of their tuition.

 

To help keep the cost of postsecondary education affordable the government is taking 30% off the average tuition for families — that means $365 for diploma and certificate students at Mohawk College this semester. 

 

Students could be eligible, if:

 

• They are a full-time student at a public college or university in Ontario  
• It’s been less than four years since they left high school  
• They are in a program that they can apply to directly from high school
• Their parents’ gross income is $160,000 or less

 

This September, the permanent 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant will apply to the full school year.  Students in a university or college degree program will save $1,600, while students in college diploma and certificate programs will save $730.

 

Because the grant is calculated to be 30% off the average Ontario tuition, the amount of the grant will keep pace with any increased future costs — meaning it will always be 30 per cent off the price of tuition.

 

Helping Ontario students with the price of tuition is part of the Ontario government’s plan to keep postsecondary education within the reach of all families, while building the best-educated workforce in the world. That leads to a stronger economy, and creates good jobs

 

 

QUOTES

 

“The new 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant makes postsecondary education more accessible and affordable for families right here in our community. This new grant is part of our government’s commitment to create the best-educated workforce in the world by giving our students every opportunity to succeed. Ontario’s future prosperity depends on it.” 

-Ted McMeekin MPP, Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale

 

“Mohawk College applauds the McGuinty government for introducing the Ontario Tuition Grant and making a Mohawk education even more affordable and accessible for our students and their families”

-says President Rob MacIsaac

 

“The Mohawk Students’ Association congratulates the McGuinty government  for investing in students by reducing the cost of tuition by 30 per cent for many of us. The new Ontario Tuition Grant will make a real difference to many Mohawk students and their families.” – Daniel Clark, President of the Mohawk Students’ Association

 

QUICK FACTS

 

§More than 300,000 undergraduate students are eligible to receive the new grant this year. Students who already receive OSAP will be automatically considered.

§Students with disabilities may receive the grant for up to six years of study.

§To fully offset the costs of the new tuition grant, efficiencies and savings were found including: the elimination of the Ontario Textbook and Technology Grant, as well as the Ontario Trust for Student Support and the phase-out of the Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarships.

§Ontario has created 200,000 additional postsecondary and apprenticeship spaces and, by re-instating student access grants, has tripled the number of grants available to students, since 2003.

 

LEARN MORE

§Find out more and apply for the new 30% Off Ontario Tuition at http://www.ontario.ca/30off

§Find out more about Ontario's colleges and universities.

 

 

CONTACT

 

Ted McMeekin MPP  905 690 6552

 

 

 

                                                

 

August 10, 2011

 

 

Ontario is supporting a major expansion and renovation at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital that will give people and families in the Burlington area better access to state-of-the-art health care, closer to home.

 

Planning is underway for a redevelopment project that will:

 

• facilitate construction of new facilities, including a new South Tower, that will accommodate current programs and create capacity for expansion of services;
• renovations and expansion to existing departments including the hospital’s emergency services, ambulatory care area, surgical services, inpatient medical care, intensive care unit, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory and pharmacy areas;
• a new power plant; and
• new parking garage for and additional 500 vehicles.

 

Investing in modern and efficient hospitals that support the needs of our aging and diversifying population is part of  Building Together , Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan. Ontario will continue to make significant investments in public infrastructure over the next decade to improve the quality of life for families.

 

 

 

QUOTES

 

 

"Partnership is about working together to ACHIEVE together what cannot be accomplished alone. The hospital leadership, the LHIN, Burlington City Council and the Province are all moving forward together with this exciting redevelopment of JBMH.
The project will improve, enhance, modernize and expand the hospital; shorten wait times for diagnostic tests and surgery; improve patient health and safety; provide more timely care and finally bring some peace of mind to a community that has not seen a major infusion of hospital capital support in over 40 years. This is not the end of a journey but the exciting start of a new and important adventure."

-Ted McMeekin MPP

 

  

“This is a critical investment in Joseph Brant and the communities it serves.  An upgraded, state-of-the-art hospital will ensure that families continue to receive high-quality health care services in comfort and with ease."

-Sophia Aggelonitis MPP

 

“I’m delighted the government is supporting our hospital’s plan to improve its facilities so that residents of Burlington and the surrounding area will soon have access to the very best in hospital care.”  

-Eric Vandewall President & CEO   Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital 

 

 

Health care, and particularly our hospitals, is something that we want to ensure is there for our children and grandchildren. The redevelopment plans for JBMH are one step closer to reality and our Board will continue to work with the Ministry of Health, the hospital Board of Governors and the hospital team as these plans move forward.

- Donna Cripps, CEO Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)

 

“I know how important this expansion is to the people of this community and I’m proud to see it move forward. For area residents, this redevelopment means faster and easier access to high quality health care services much closer to home.” 

- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

 

“Our Building Together infrastructure plan is our road map to a stronger Ontario. We know that infrastructure, such as major hospital projects, are worth investing in and maintaining for the good of everyone.”

- Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure

 

 

QUICK FACTS 

 

 

§ Ontario has invested in over 100 major hospital capital projects since 2003. This includes 18 brand new hospitals that are either completed or in development.

 

 

§ The McGuinty government will be investing more than $35 billion in hospitals, public transit, schools, highways and other projects over the next three years as part of the Building Together infrastructure plan.

 

 

 

LEARN MORE

 

 

Read more about the multi-year Building Together infrastructure plan.

CONTACT

 

 

Ted McMeekin MPP 905 690 6552

 

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