Lakeshore Advance, 2013-01-16, Page 32 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, January 16, 2013
PC MPP Monte McNaughton calls for
end to ineffective Drive Clean Program
Lakeshore Advance
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex PC NI 1) Monte
McNaughton added to the concerns coaling from
Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter, and called
for an end to Ontario's ineffective Drive (;lean
program. McNaughton said Drive Clean is a
costly program that fails to deliver significant
impact and no longer remains relevant.
"The Auditor General's 2012 Annual Report is
yet another disturbing catalogue of misspending,
poor oversight, lack of priorities and wasteful
programs coining from the Liberal government,"
said McNaughton. "Our New Deal for the Public
Sector argues that just because the government
runs something, doesn't mean it's going m be run
well. Again this year, the Auditor General offers
proof that we're right."
McNaughton made the comments citing that
the Ministry of Environment collects $30 million
annually in fees motorists pay to the Drive Clean
vehicle testing program, even though it has little
impact on the reduction Of emissions in Ontario
- and in some cases, has made emissions even
worse for car owners.
"'Ihe Ministry of Environment's own estimates
show that better cars and cleaner fuel are driving
recent reductions in vehicle emissions," said
McNaughton. "With vehicle emissions no longer
among the major contributors of smog in Ontario,
it is clear this program has outlived its usefulness
and should be halted."
British Columbia has already announced it will
discontinue its version of Drive Clean for light-
duty vehicles by 2014, joining five U.S. states that
have already made the changes. With the original
goal of encouraging car makers to reduce emis-
sions having been met, McNaughton says it is
now time to end Ontario's Drive (:lean program
as well.
"With many Ontario families struggling to
slake ends meet, it is simply unacceptable w
force taxpayers to pay $30 million on a program
that is not producing results," concluded
McNaughton. "I agree with the Auditor General
that tough times demand tough choices, but that
Aurllfded
Test o Rtpeir fad
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, •
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DRIVE CLEAN
30 MILLION
Lakeshore Advance
Photo hed: MPP Monte McNaughton in Lambton
Shores last week
needs to start with new leadership. A PC govern-
ment led by Tim I ludak will make the tough
choices needed to get Ontario hack on track.
A New Deal is available online at: www.ontari-
opc,com/paths-to-prosperity/a-new -deal- for -
the -public -sector/
1. bite \'VorkiII1►�K_ n --
Sunday
Zat i 21)
lSunday January. ?Odt 2 PM to 4 PM
Grated fiend 1 o pun
An afternoon of teatfirxgs and it mit' alxxlt sluai1cg what
we have with others...
• London recording artist Karim
• Ed VandenDool
• Local choirs and the London Unity Choir
• Clergy and readers from our sacred faiths
Koh eshinents will be servexI f voryone Welcome!
k?in
(Mir flottinkfargup unci share with your Mends.
See related column on page 4.
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What a mess, says parents after
Friday's cease and desist order
Lynda HIIIman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
Even though a last-minute provincial
decision ensured schools stayed open
Friday, many students still weren't in
class as parents struggled to figure out
what was going on.
After an all-night hearing, the Ontario
Labour Relations Board issued a cease
and desist order to the Elementary
Teachers' Federation of Ontario just
before 4 a.m. Friday. The union was
planning a one -day protest that would
haVe closed elementary_ schools across
the province.
The board ruled the planned job
action was illegal, despite teachers'
unions claiming their right to political
protest was guaranteed under the
Canadian Charter of (tights and
Freedoms.
"Ihe Elementary Teachers' Federation
of Ontario instructed its 76,000 mem-
bers to comply with the ruling Friday.
• That left officials with the Lambton
Kent District School Board scrambling,
early Friday morning, to let parents
know that classes at its 53 elementary
schools were hack on.
But many parents opted to keep their
children home instead, citing confusion
about whether schools were open.
The Lakeshore Advance Facehook
site had no shortage of comments from
parents frustrated with the mess. Nicole
Gunn whose child is with 1.aslbton
Kent hoard said she kept her son home.
"1 had told hits on Wednesday night
that his teachers needed to go to a
important sleeting on Friday (that's all
a 6 yr old needs to know). Ile and his
daddy had it fun day planned with
building a fort and watching nu)vies....I
was not about to squash that for them
at 7an1 this morning."
Julia Campbell whose children go to
'Mantes Valley said,"I kept my daughter
home. 1 wouldn't have known about the
change of plans if not for my husband.
Ile heard it on the radio. I wasn't happy
about this walk out but leaving the situ-
ation until 3:30an1. of the day in ques-
tion is just plain stupid!" Both Julia
'I'uenlner and Martie 11111, Avon Mait-
land parents said they stuck with the
original planand their kids stayed home
but Ifi11 said the school did call in the
morning though to check on them. A
Sarnia parent weighed in on the
Observer site stating.' 'Today was corn
plate iIS! My children went to school,
albeit a tact Tate, to have free periods
and Physical Education which again
was free play time...'1hey are in grades
five and six! So it would seem as the
teachers were forced into the class
rooms they clung to the idea that no
one can force these to actually
teach.' Another parent 011 that site,
although frustrated said,' What a crazy
situation for all parties. No one %itis
here. Before people jump all over
teachers for this, remember how much
harder this situation slakes their jobs
also. Trust tine, teachers work very hard
and not all are paid all that well, and
looks like it will stay that way for a long
time. I feel sorry for parents, students
AND teachers."
Elementary schools saw between
25% and 50% of students show up Fri-
day, said education director Jim Cos-
tello. But staffing levels were normal,
with no teachers calling in for political
reasons.
ii
It's really important
for the education of
young people that they
have some consistency
and some of these
interruptions are
quite distracting
-- Education director Jim Costello
Costello called Friday's ruling a
"small victory" for public education,
offering some stability, for the time
being.
"It's really important for the educa-
tion of young people that they have
some consistency and some of these
interruptions are quite distracting," he
said. "I think it's rough on students."
Teachers remain frustrated over con-
tracts recently imposed using provincial
legislation: Bill 1 15. "They say their col-
lective bargaining rights have been
stripped.
"We still have a situation where the
terms and conditions of our members'
employment has been (dictated through
a disgraceful use of government power;"
E'1'F0 president Sam I Iamnlond said in
a release Friday. "It cannot be business
as usual in the education sector"
111 response to the ruling, the Ontario
Secondary School 'teachers' Federation
also cancelled its province -wide pro-
tests planned for next Wednesday, said
local federation officer !high
Garrett.
"'Teachers remain frustrated and con-
tinue to be deeply concerned over what
the government has clone to our bar-
gaining rights and the contract imposed
on us under Bill 1 15," he said in an
email. "1 lowever, we hope that the gov-
ernment and new premier will recog-
nize the need to work positively with us
towards a resolution of our concerns:'
Ontario's next premier will be
decided at the Liberal Leadership con-
vention Jan. 25 and 26.
With Jiles fro,n QM Agency