Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to ask a question with regard to the numbers on this page. We see funded positions from ‘12-13 and ‘13-14 go down 23 positions. My first question would be do we have a corresponding reduction in student enrolments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to follow up for my first questions on Mr. Bromley’s questions with regard to the funding for Early Childhood Development.

I noted in the Minister’s opening remarks he stated, in 2013-14 the department plans to spend $7.7 million, about $1.4 million more than budgeted in the 2012-13 Main Estimates. I thought about that. The main estimates were amended, I believe, when committee added $1.25 million to the main estimates. I would like clarification. If we have $1.4 million more than the 2012-13 Main Estimates in this budget, the 2013-14 budget, how much of that $1.4...

Following up with that answer, then, are there things in the other category which couldn’t also be posted, for instance, under materials and supplies? I would think that’s where furnishings would go. If it’s TSC chargebacks, then one would think they would go there. That’s actually another question. How come there’s no chargebacks for TSC from the department? I would just ask that the department eliminate other in the next year’s budget.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. It’s one thing to monitor the expenditures but I would hope that we’re also looking at providing cost of living increases in some of the amounts of dollars that we give out to our income support clients. Certainly, their expenses go up and everybody’s are always going up. Does this figure in the budget include an adjustment for cost of living increases? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to confirm that committee would like to consider the tabled document before us, Department of Education and Transportation, as well, if we get that far. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the deputy minister for her comments. I want to say that I am a little concerned that safe schools and anti-bullying are mentioned in the same breath and they seem to have the same focus. For me, safe schools or a safe schools plan or policy encompasses far more than just anti-bullying. In my mind, it should look at safe schools in terms of students, the safety of the students. It should look at the safety of the teachers and it should look at the safety of other staff within the school. Bullying is one aspect, but there certainly are other things which happen...

That’s good to hear. The Auditor General, in my experience, always does a grand job of providing excellent recommendations.

As the department underwent this review with the Auditor General’s office, I know that people usually discover things as they have somebody who’s poring over their books and their programs and so on. So does the Minister have anything at this point where he can say that, yes, there were some areas where they already know that there are deficiencies and that they will be looking at trying to correct?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Is committee agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ll just speak briefly to the motion. We have had a lot of discussion about inclusive schooling, and I think one of the things that this motion tries to address is that the current Inclusive Schooling funding does not work. Providing a percentage of funding according to population to schools is not recognizing that there are certain schools and/or certain authorities who have a higher need for funding for special needs students. It’s been suggested that maybe the funding should follow the student, and I’m not so sure that that’s the exact way to go, but certainly we need...

That’s good.