(Queen’s Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop, a former P.A. to the Minister of Education, today demanded that both Dalton McGuinty and Gerard Kennedy live up to their announcement today inviting all MPPs to spend one day in the classroom before March break.

“I would be pleased to join the Premier and Education Minister at the schools they decide to visit for a day,” said Dunlop. “A full school day is 9 am until 3:30 pm, so the school they visited just to make their announcement isn’t enough.”

“I don’t need Dalton McGuinty and Gerard Kennedy telling me how to do my job as an MPP, especially when they’ve already proven they’re having trouble doing their own jobs,” added Dunlop. “I’m sure parents and teachers would rather see more progress on the Rozanski recommendations than me standing in the corner all day.”

During the recent election, Dalton McGuinty campaigned on a platform that touted education as a top priority. Almost five months have passed since the election and McGuinty has yet to fulfill such education promises as: capping class sizes at 20, ensuring that 75 percent of Ontario’s students meet or exceed the provincial standard on province-wide tests, and establishing a Standing Committee on Education.

“I will help Premier McGuinty and Education Minister Kennedy keep this promise of visiting a classroom for a day,” said Dunlop. “They just need to name the day, the time and the place – I’ll be there.”

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