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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-10-03, Page 1010 Times–Advocate Technically speaking (NOTE: Technically Speaking is a column that will be a monthly newsletter addressing the requirements and concerns of the technological trades in regards to stu- dent education in the South Huron area. A Technology Advisory Group (TAC) was initiated last year to assist the educational system in meeting the requirements of local employers and industry. The members of this committee are volunteers who are actively employed in the technical field. Their expertise is assisting the teachers and administration of South Huron DHS in delivering curriculum that is geared more specifically on the demands and requirements needed to become a valued employee in a technological based area. The first submission is written by Glenn McGregor, Business -Education and OYAP Co-ordinator for the Avon Maitland District School Board. When Rob Peat, the Technical Head at South Huron District High School, asked me to write this article for "Technically Speaking," I asked myself how I could best promote Technological Education and Apprenticeship Training that occurs at the secondary school and in the community. The answer was to give thanks. Give thanks on a personal note and to give thanks from my position as Business – Education , and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Co-ordinator at the Avon Maitland District School Board. Personally, I would like to give thanks to the South Huron community, the people I used to work with, and the business that supported my electrical apprentice- ship. I first came to work for Hayter Electric Ltd., in Centralia as a third year apprentice in 1976. For me, an apprenticeship was a fantastic mode of education and the people I worked with and those who trusted our workmanship, were the "icing on the cake." Bill Hodge and Ron Funston were co-workers at the time, graduates of South Huron District High School and are still electricians in your TErilli community. I look back so fondly at the times we had together, and have only appreciated in later years, how formative and complete the training was that we shared together as young electricians. But, without the com- munity support (that being of the business and individu- als who trusted our workmanship), and the belief in us from our employer, we could not have grown in experi- ence and confidence and excelled in our trade. Those foundation years that the community of South Huron afforded me served me well to continue my education as a teacher and now as the school board's OYAP Co-ordi- nator. Thank you. The employers and the community of South Huron need to be recognized for their part in supporting apprenticeships and in particular the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. In the last three years 23 SHDHS students in grades 11 and 12 have signed as apprentices in the South Huron community. As I did so many years ago, these young apprentices are experienc- Wednesday, October 3, 2007 ing an education that pays; gives immediate rewards; builds self confidence and enhances practical skills with theory. But more than this — and this is what needs to be rec- ognized — is that apprenticeship training for our youth extracts the talents of the trade professional journeymen and journeywomen teaching them, (in many cases these are unappreciated talents). These tradespeople are the true teachers of skill trades; their BEI -contribution as individuals to our society and to our economic growth both local and globally is too often overlooked. Likewise the employers and businesses ICRLthat support apprenticeship training need to be recognized and appreciated. Not only does this support for apprenticeship training boost our economy but it also helps build a strong community. A community that gives hope and opportunity to our youth, and helps retain our youth to become future leaders and employers. South Huron, as a community needs to give itself a pat on the back. We look forward to partnering with the South Huron community this year in supporting OYAP, Technical Education and the future of our students. Together we need to give thanks for a great partnership in both edu- cation and investing in the future. And what better way to say thanks than giving back to the community. (Last year 120 Avon Maitland District School Board OYAP students registered as apprentices in the district.) GLENN MCGREGOR Business -Education & OYAP Co-ordinator Avon Maitland District School Board How MMP could benefit rural Ontario Some farm leaders are expressing concerns about the possible loss of some rural ridings under the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system while failing to make any mention of the gains possible when every vote counts toward representation — parties cannot win "phony majorities" and there are list members who can represent a dispersed constituency, like farmers, spread over many ridings. They obviously have failed to consider what I will call "The Gordon Hill Possibility" of the MMP system, over- whelmingly recommended by the Ontario Citizens' Assembly. Let me explain with an example. In 1977, Gordon Hill, recently retired president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and a powerful spokesman for agriculture, ran against Bob Eaton in the Middlesex riding to chal- lenge the Davis government farm policies. For the dura- tion of the election he did just that but "first past the post" returned Eaton and Gordon's voice did not echo off the walls inside Queen's Park. Sitting smug with another "phony majority," the government could ignore the farmers outside the walls being pummeled by high interest rates and dropping commodity prices for another four years. How different it could have been with MMP. Gordon Hill could have run against Eaton and, as a high profile advocate for farmers been nominated high on the list for his party. Farmers across Ontario could have sup- ported him by voting for him and his party with their party vote. When the dust settled on election night 1977 several things would have been different under MMP. No party got a majority of the popular vote in 1977 so it would have been a minority government. Second, a party like Gordon's that was under represented in riding mem- bers would have topped up their seat counts with mem- bers from the party list. Gordon Hill would likely have been one of the newly -elected list MPPs, capable of arguing the farmers' concerns within the legislature in a minority government situation. It is pretty clear to me which situation would have given farmers better representation. It is why I'll be voting with the 94 members of the Citizens' Assembly West Coast kitchens. And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities Linda Reaume • Entertainment Units • Home Offices Design Consultant Bob Smyth Design Consultant PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATIONS CUSTOM DESIGNS & COUNTERTOPS Visit Our Showroom! 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352 • 1-866-440-0352 Goderich & District Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award 2006 Email: westcoastkit@cabletv.on.ca who recommended MMP because they felt it provides greater representation, fairer election results and gives voters more choice. I was also surprised that the OFA and CFFO don't question "first past the post's" certainty of wasting over half the votes cast each election. This is because with the FPTP, winner -take -all system, the winner in each riding gets all the representation and everyone else gets none. In addition to leading to "phony majorities" this system creates a form of politi- cal roulette where the voters never know how it will go off. In a system where every vote counts toward repre- sentation and each party gets seats in proportion to its popular vote, modest shifts in popular vote lead to mod- est shifts in the composition of the legislature and politi- cal stability. With the political roulette of "first past the post" small shifts in popular vote can lead to large shifts in party seats and "phony majorities" lurching from one extreme to the other. It also means that shifts in farmer support for a party and its agricultural policies can be completely disregarded because in most cases those votes will be wasted on election night and count for nothing. Staying with "first past the post" is how to ensure unresponsive and arrogant "phony majority" governments continue. When I was researching this note I phoned Gordon Hill and he told me, "You don't need a majority to do good things. You only need a majority if you want to do bad things." He also said, "I've never been as mad at a minority government as I have been with majorities." "Phony majority" governments can run rough shod over the majority of the people's wishes precisely because they are a "phony majority." We can change that Oct. 10 by voting for MMP. I already know how FPTP isn't working for rural Ontario. I'm looking forward to having my vote and my neighbours' vote count for some representation each and every election. And I'm looking forward to the `Gordon Hill Possibility' that Mixed Member Proportional offers us for some strong and dedicated voices speaking up for agriculture inside the Legislature. I'm voting for MMP. 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