Provincial candidates were looking to pass the test on education issues Tuesday evening.
They were quizzed on everything from party platforms to how curriculum can be used to strengthen Ontario’s economy at the Education Candidate Forum held at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
The cost of education was a reoccurring theme as Thunder Bay-Superior North Progressive Conservative candidate Anthony LeBlanc took aim at what he called wasteful bureaucracy while reiterating his party’s plan to increase spending on education by over $2 billion.
LeBlanc said adminitstrive salaries continue to climb, putting more staff on the province’s sunshine list.
But Thunder Bay – Atikokan Liberal candidate said while there’s no doubt anyone on the sunshine list is making good money, it’s more reflective of inflation rather than a growing bureaucracy in education.
"I think it’s a bit unfair and misleading," Mauro said.
NDP candidate for Thunder Bay – Superior North Steve Mantis said its getting harder for families to afford certain extras that are expected in the public education system. From food to school supplies, economic barriers in the system need to be removed.
"How can a kid learn when they come to school without breakfast?" Mantis said.
Mauro said he stands by his party’s record over the last eight years, putting money into education during a recession when it would have been easy to cut school board budgets. Instead, the Liberals increased funding by 60 per cent per pupil in the Lakehead school board alone.
"It wasn’t an easy time to invest in education it wasn’t an easy decision," Mauro said.
Still, LeBlanc said the north is different and its needs aren’t being addressed.
The funding formula needs to recognize that (the north is different)," LeBlanc said.
Mantis said that the cost of tuition for post-secondary education is getting out of control and is slipping away from being a public system.
"It becomes who can afford it?"
Again Mauro stuck by his party’s past saying they’ve already opened up 200,000 more post-secondary spots with another 60,000 planned.
LeBlanc said his party would reinstate the fall report card so that parents know how their children are doing.
"If not we’re setting them up to fail," LeBlanc said.
Mauro said in the last eight years, 90 per cent of classrooms have been cut to less than 23 students, allowing more time to focus on their needs.
Thunder Bay-Superior North Green Party candidate Scot Kyle said curriculum is coming from the top-down rather than being developed by an inclusive community. From apprentice programs to school gardens, the education system needs to become more accessible and inclusive he said.
