Ontario's Budget Axe Cuts Valuable Toronto Diversity Program

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Turtle Island Native Network
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Ontario's Budget Axe Cuts Valuable Diversity Program in Toronto

March 26, 2003

Diversity program has been a valued asset to the parents in the education system of Toronto for almost three decades.

Award-winning School Community Advisors service is the target of Eve's government budget axe.

Aboriginal community joins chorus of protest after provincial government strikes a blow against diversity in Toronto's education system. The Aboriginal Peoples Council of Toronto is part of the School Community Advisors Advocacy Coalition that will deliver individually-signed petitions to the Premier's Office, copies to the offices of the Minister of Education, the Provincial Supervisor and the Director of Education of the Toronto District School Board.

This Friday, the Toronto District School Board TDSB will be terminating its School Community Advisor service, that has been recognized widely for greatly improving the lives of many families, particularly from Toronto's diverse communities.

Just a week ago the service received the CultureLink Award for its work in "nurturing a healthy understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity" in the City of Toronto. The award pays tribute to those "who make a special contribution to ensuring an equitable and inclusive community."

The Aboriginal Peoples Council of Toronto is among the twenty community support groups that will present petitions and call on the school board to save the valuable service.

The Board's funding from the Ontario Government is blamed for ringing the death knell of the School Community Advisor service, but the community groups want the TDSB to revisit its budget priorities in order to continue the service.

Successive Boards of Education "had recognized it as an essential service for the new immigrant, working class and poor families of our communities."

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BACKGROUND

S.C.A. Advocacy Coalition Delivers Petitions to Province & Board of Education

Addresses Trustees on Wednesday Evening

TORONTO, March 25,2003

"Tomorrow, March 26th, the School Community Advisors Advocacy Coalition will hold a media conference just hours before the program is terminated, to call on the Province and Toronto District School
Board to save the SCA service", said Doug Hum of the Coalition.

"Afterwards the Coalition will deliver the individually-signed petitions to the Premier's Office, with copies to the offices of the Minister of Education, the Provincial Supervisor and the Director of Education of the Toronto District School Board".

"Parents will not forget that the provincial funding formula is the cause
of the demise of the SCA service", said Hum.

"The Coalition will be addressing the meeting of TDSB Trustees in the
evening where the Certificate of Award from CultureLink to the SCA service of the TDSB will be displayed." Hum continued, "The School Community Advisors service received the well-deserved Diverse-City Award, presented by CultureLink Settlement Services.

The Award is given to those who nurture a healthy understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity in the City of Toronto and pays tribute to those who make a special contribution to ensuring an equitable and inclusive community.

Doug Hum concluded "This Friday, the TDSB will be terminating its
Award-winning School Community Advisor service, which greatly improved the lives of many families, particularly from our diverse communities. The TDSB can -- and should -- re-examine its priorities and do the right thing. We need School Community Advisors."

SCAAC March 26th Schedule:


9:30 AM SCAAC Media Conference
Media Studio, Queen's Park, 1st floor, west side.

9:45 AM Delivery of Petitions to the Premier's Office
Room 281, 2nd floor, Queen's Park

10:15 AM Delivery of copies to the Minister of Education
900 Bay Street, Mowat Block, 22nd floor

11:30 AM Delivery of copies to the Offices of the Director and
Supervisor
Toronto District School Board, 5050 Yonge Street

6:30 PM SCAAC Deputation to TDSB Trustees Meeting
Copies of Petitions will be submitted and
Certificate of Award to the SCAs service will be displayed.
Board Room, 5050 Yonge Street.


SCAAC
(School Community Advisors Advocacy Coalition)
c/o 70 Chartwell Road
Etobicoke, Ontario M8Z 4G6

Participating Community Organizations: Karuna Community Services,
South Asian Education Liaison Committee, Canadian Tamil Parents'
Association, Toronto Federation of Chinese Parents, Eritrean Canadian
Education Centre, Metro Network for Social Justice, Urban Alliance on
Race Relations, Community Equity Reference Group of TDSB, Muslim
Educational Network, Iranian Parents Association, Aboriginal Peoples
Council of Toronto, Vietnamese Canadian Parents Association,
Organization of Parents of Black Children, CUPE Local 4400, Campaign for
Public Education, Chinese Canadian National Council-Toronto Chapter,
Portuguese Canadian Coalition for Better Education, Portuguese Canadian
National Congress, Chinese Canadian National Council-Youth Committee,
Rights Watch.

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For further information: Doug Hum, cell: (416) 706-7886

CultureLink honours TDSB School Community Advisors


Just 1 WEEK BEFORE PROVINCE CLOSES DOWN THE PROGRAM !


TORONTO, March 21,2003

Today, just one week before Ernie Eve's appointed Supervisor, Paul Christie, permanently closes down the valued "School Community Advisors" program at the Toronto District School Board, School Community Advisors will be honoured at the 5th Annual "Diverse City"
Awards Dinner.

"For almost three decades, this program has been a valued asset to the
parents in the education system", said Doug Hum, member of the School
Community Advisors Advocacy Coalition. He continued, "Almost all of the
previous Boards of Education had this position because it was recognized as an essential service for the new immigrant, working class and poor families of our communities".

Hum continues "With a stroke of the budget axe, the Eves government has
destroyed a legacy of almost three decades of excellence. The hard work of the School Community Advisors in developing programs and networks to help kids and their families, has come to an ignoble end."

According to Hum, "The Awards recognize individuals, organizations and
institutions that nurture a healthy understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity in the City of Toronto. This Award reflects the appreciation for the dedication, commitment and hard work that have ensured the needs and concerns of our children and families are met in this very diverse city".

"We nominated the School Community Advisors not only to recognize their
special contribution, but also to commemorate the uniqueness and vision that the SCA service brings to our school communities and education system".

Doug Hum concluded, "The parents will not forget as the next provincial
election rolls around. Slick ads and smiling promises don't replace the
support that has been taken away from our students. We intend to keep fighting for the reinstatement of this valuable program".


CultureLinks Award Dinner: Friday 21 March, 6:30 PM, 1573 Bloor St. West
(Lithuanian Hall)

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SCAAC
(School Community Advisors Advocacy Coalition)
c/o 70 Chartwell Road
Etobicoke, Ontario M8Z 4G6

Participating Community Organizations: Karuna Community Services,
South Asian Education Liaison Committee, Canadian Tamil Parents'
Association, Toronto Federation of Chinese Parents, Eritrean Canadian
Education Centre, Metro Network for Social Justice, Urban Alliance on
Race Relations, Community Equity Reference Group of TDSB, Muslim
Educational Network, Iranian Parents Association, Aboriginal Peoples
Council of Toronto, Vietnamese Canadian Parents Association,
Organization of Parents of Black Children, CUPE Local 4400, Campaign for
Public Education, Chinese Canadian National Council-Toronto Chapter,
Portuguese Canadian Coalition for Better Education, Portuguese Canadian
National Congress, Chinese Canadian National Council-Youth Committee,
Rights Watch

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For further information: Doug Hum, cell: (416) 706-7886