Toronto: Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) Ontario Director, John Williamson, speaking at Queen's Park today, entered the debate over the recent provincial government decision to take over the school boards in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton.

Reports expose gross mismanagement
The investigation into the financial affairs of the boards revealed everything concerned taxpayers need to know. "This is not a debate over who does what, and who should have responsibility over education. Rather it is a debate over more basic principles: Issues like accountability, sound decision-making, and fiscal responsibility to all taxpayers," said Williamson. "There was an astonishing belief among school board trustees that the rules of the game - be it safeguarding tax dollars, making the necessary financial decisions to ensure a program's viability, and cutting waste - simply did not apply to them."

A tale of three provinces: Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan
According to Statistics Canada figures compiled by the CTF, Ontario's per capita spending on education, which stands at $1,158, is the third highest in Canada, after Alberta's $1,325 and Saskatchewan's $1,169. But unlike these two provinces, Ontario's school boards have failed to control their costs. Alberta spends 54 cents of its public education dollar on salaries, Saskatchewan dedicates some 60 cents, but Ontario spends 70 cents. "When it comes to spending money on education Ontario is in the top tier, but the money is not being spent on students," said Williamson. "The problem with our education system is not a lack of resources, but mismanagement and poor decision making by local authorities, particularly in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton."

The real problem: Reckless disregard
The CTF also announced the launch of a petition campaign in support of the government's decision to take control of the school boards, to press the legislature to resist any calls for increased taxes, to keep boards accountable to taxpayers, and to search for cost saving measures in all school boards. "These trustees made it clear they just don't care about Ontario taxpayers. They seem to believe they can spend excessive amounts of money with reckless disregard for the law, the needs of students, and fairness to taxpayers. Ontario taxpayers had come to hope that such attitudes had died out," said Williamson. "But this is not so, and the fight for fiscal responsibility goes on. The government acted to avoid future budget deficits and protect the interests of all taxpayers," concluded Williamson.