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TORONTO – Ontario's new Conservative government has canceled a $ 100 million fund for school repairs this year, a reduction that stems from Doug Ford's election promise to scrap the school system. cap and trade of the province.
School boards were notified on July 3 that the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund would be eliminated and only work contracted by that date would be covered.
The note, obtained by The Canadian Press, advises school boards to stop spending "[TRADUCTION]" Please keep detailed records of the contracts that have been signed, as Ministry staff will contact the boards for advice. gather information on the scope of work in progress, "says the memo.
Toronto District School Chairman of the Board, Robin Pilkey, said this decision was disappointing because the board of directors had a $ 4 billion backlog of compensation.
The TDSB had planned $ 300 million for this interview, including the $ 25 million Pilkey said: [TRADUCTION] "Losing $ 25 million is a big deal for us," she said. "Our repair delay is so important that every piece counts, we will have to make decisions over the next few weeks, that we do not realize these projects or that we take money out of the other funds and we eliminate some of them." 39; others.
The commission had planned to use funding to repair windows, light up and complete other mechanical work in its schools, she said.
It is unlikely, however, that much of the money has been spent because the board has to hire contractors.
"It's not like you're getting money on May 1 and you can spend it on May 15," she said.
The province has a repair backlog of approximately $ 15 billion in its 4,900 publicly funded schools.
Stephen Seaborn, spokesperson for the education advocacy group Campaign for Public Education, said: The cut will hurt schools in Ontario.
"It's bad," he said. "It was done as if it was nothing, there was no discussion about what was going to be done on school budgets."
Seaborn said the cancellation of the cap-and-trade system clearly had unintended consequences. The renovation program is a typical example.
"My message to the Prime Minister is to watch what you do," he said. "This has huge implications for 2 million schoolchildren across the province."
Ford campaigned on a promise to eliminate the cap and trade and repealed the regulation establishing the program as one of his first acts after his official inauguration on June 29. Ford spokesman Simon Jefferies said the Conservatives received a strong mandate from voters to end cap and trade
"To ensure an orderly liquidation of carbon tax programs" [19659008] "Decisions to pursue specific initiatives will be made on a case-by-case basis."
NDP legislator Peggy Sattler said the Ford government's decision to cut the fund would hurt Ontario's children.
"Children end the school year in sweltering clbadrooms and, in the winter, they wear their coats and mittens to their desks, "said Mr. Sattler, a statement. 39, water that is not safe and roofs that need to be replaced. "
Mr. Sattler said that with a multi-billion-dollar repair backlog, Ontario schools need to invest Emotions and not cuts
there is no hope for children and educators, and absolutely disgusting that our children's clbadrooms are one of the first places where the ax of Doug Ford falls, "she said
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