Bill No. 72: Consultation - Question Period

MR. SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth South. 

MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. Over the last two days in this House, the minister has insisted that his focus is on all students. However, his government's disappearing of the democratically-elected school boards, and their dedicated African Nova Scotian and Mi'kmaq representatives, will do nothing to improve the situation for our kids in classrooms, and will not address what parents, teachers, and students have been calling out for.

Can the minister point to a single provision in this hastily-compiled, enormous, omnibus bill - not some future plan or future initiative - that will make one difference for my children, and other children, in classrooms?

HON. ZACH CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, I can name several. Fixing the administrative structure, which has led to different achievement outcomes from one region to the next - that is a problem this will help fix. Having more resources go from central offices into classrooms will help. Having a rural education strategy to meet the needs of those in the extreme areas of our province will help.

Enhancing the voice of African Nova Scotians and Mi'kmaq in the department with executive director positions that will be permanent and focused on the achievement gap that we have been unable to fix, despite the fact that we've had representation on our school boards, will have a direct impact. Empowering our teachers to have more say over course materials, curricula, giving our principals the freedom to be without conflict of interest to focus on the needs of our kids.

All of these things will directly impact our kids for the better. (Applause)

MS. CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the self-serving applause, I heard nothing on that list that has been requested by teachers, students, or administrators.

What we've learned from the elimination of local health authorities is that centralizing decision-making has not improved patient care, or resulted in greater focus on health and wellness. What it has done is left communities fending for themselves without services that meet local needs, and has created constant questions about who is accountable for decisions. Now we're getting ready for the same issues in our education system.

Given what is at stake, and our experience in health care, why won't the minister pause this bill to consult with local communities, rather than dictate to them - which is my interpretation of what's happened so far - about what is needed in classrooms?

MR. CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, in fact the objectives of this report, of this legislation, I believe are reflective to the primary concerns that we have heard. This will help us implement an inclusive education policy that will better improve the classroom complexity challenges teachers have been dealing with.

It's so interesting that for a year, I've been hearing from the Opposition that's told us this system is in crisis, the education system is broken. Now that we are on the verge of having the single greatest reforms that have happened in this province since history in education, they have become defenders of the status quo.

MR. SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Kings North.


Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.

Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/index.php/proceedings/hansard/