(Queen’s Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop today criticized Education Minister Gerard Kennedy for ignoring a school busing issue affecting students from the former townships of Carden and Dalton.

During previous school years, some 150 elementary and secondary school students from Carden and Dalton were bused to Orillia-area schools that fall under the jurisdiction of the Simcoe County District School Board, rather than the local school board.

In a letter dated March 9, 2004, Dunlop and Haliburton-Victoria-Brock MPP Laurie Scott asked Minister Kennedy to re-introduce a Progressive Conservative regulation that would allow the cross-jurisdictional transportation costs for these students to be funded on a per-kilometre, per-student basis. If approved by Cabinet, this regulation would allow the students to continue attending the Orillia-area schools.

“I was shocked that after waiting five long months for a response, what we received was a form letter signed by Kennedy that doesn’t even address this unique issue,” said Dunlop. “Parents and students in Carden and Dalton deserve much better from the Minister who claims to put students first.

“Laurie Scott and I also tried to raise our concerns with Minister Kennedy in the legislature,” added Dunlop. “The new school year is just days away, yet the Minister’s neglect continues.”

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)