This policy brief, by Christopher J. Bruce of the Institute for Advanced Policy Research at the University of Calgary, analyses two public involvement processes in Alberta, imagine Calgary (2006) and the Banff Bow Valley Study (1996). Bruce looks at the lessons to be learned from these two processes about how formal consensus-building processes might work and the difficulties that might be faced. The policy brief also investigates whether these processes allowed broadly representative groups of people to become directly involved in the development of public policy. Read the policy brief.
Centre for Civic Governance
The Centre for Civic Governance works to support community leadership meeting today’s social and environmental challenges: climate change, Canada’s increasing equity gap, and shifting social trends.
At the Centre for Civic Governance, our goal is to strengthen Canadian communities through sharing best practices, providing tools for locally elected leaders, and progressive policy analysis. We strive to provide knowledge and information to make real and positive social change.
Literacy: Creating the Conditions for Reading & Writing Success
The Auditor General of BC has released its report on literacy in BC schools. One of the report’s conclusions was that more could be done to reach out to potential literacy learners and that better support through data and funding is needed, as well as improved monitoring and performance reporting. Click here to link to the BCSTA report website.
Through the Green Glass Keynote Presentations
The Centre for Civic Governance hosted Through the Green Glass: Climate Change Symposium for Education Leaders on January 24, 2008. Click here to view videos of the keynote speeches from the Symposium – Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Dr. John Fyfe.
Global Climate Change & Children’s Health
What are the anticipated health effects of climate change on children’s health? According to a recent policy statement put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are likely to suffer disproportionately from environmental hazards as a result of climatic changes. Possible health consequences include: climate-sensitive infectious diseases, increases in air pollution and heat-related illnesses, and increased vulnerability from natural disasters. The policy statement includes mitigation and adaptation strategies and recommendations to pediatricians and government. Click here to read the policy statement.
New CEA Funding Guide
The Community Energy Association has just released its 2008 funding guide. Funding Your Community Energy Initiatives is a guide to funding and resources for local governments.
Langley Special Education Inquiry Report
The Langley Special Education Inquiry Report, released in January 2008, was a joint project of the District Parent Advisory Council, CUPE Local 1260, and the Langley Teachers’ Association. Key findings of the report include that there has been an historical underfunding of special education in BC that has led to overcrowded classrooms and unmanageable caseloads for teachers. The Inquiry also found that graduation levels for special needs kids are 10 points below the average for all students.
Read the Inquiry Report here or read a Tyee article about the Report.
Forget Oil, the New Global Crisis is Food
This recent article from the Financial Post summarizes a talk given by Donald Coxe, a global portfolio strategist with BMO Financial Group. According to Coxe, the price of food has been rising dramatically, reflecting higher oil prices, increased demand for ethanol (which is made from corn), and increasing demand for meat and dairy products from countries like China and India, whose middle classes want to eat like North Americans. Some of the statistics include:
- Raw food prices have increased 22% over 2007;
- Price of corn has increased 44% in the past 15 months;
- Price of wheat is up 92% over 2007;
- Consumers paid 6.5% more for food in 2007.
P3s Just Put the Bill in Another Pocket
This is a great article by Craig McInnes of the Vancouver Sun. In it, he questions the veracity of claims that provincial public debt has been reduced. In reality it is simply being replaced with other payment obligations such as those contained in P3 arrangements.
To read it click here.
TILMA and Boards of Education
This discussion paper by Joan Axford, Secretary-Treasurer of SD 63, gives a good overview of the TILMA and its potential impact on boards of education in BC. It raises a number of important questions including:
- How will the TILMA’s purchasing thresholds affect boards of education? What will the costs of using electronic tendering systems be? Will boards still be able to use their purchasing power to support local economies?
- How will TILMA affect the ability of boards to develop policies that may be seen as restricting or impairing trade and investment? Policies such as banning junkfood or limiting corporate sponsorship in schools appear to contradict the TILMA.
Axford also makes a number of recommendations including that BCSTA advocate for the exemption of boards of education from the TILMA. This is what BCSTA’s members voted for at the last AGM and there is ample evidence that it would be in the public’s interest if boards were exempt.
To read the full paper, click here.
Engaging the Community: School Closures and Other Issues of Interest
This presentation was given at the 2006 BCSTA Academy by MaryLynne Rimer, Chair of the Saanich School Board and Dr. Keven Elder, the Superintendent of Saanich School District. It provides some background and information on:
- Saanich School District’s school closure process and the lessons learned from that process;
- how the school district engaged the community; and
- the Commission on Public Education that the Saanich School District carried out. Through this Commission the Board received input from community members about what the community felt was important for public education. This information will be used to guide future budget decisions.
To view the PowerPoint presentation, click here.
P3s Make News Across the Country
P3s made headlines across the country this week. Newspapers in Halifax, Montreal, and Edmonton all carried pieces that questioned the supposed benefits of the P3 model. Last week the Globe and Mail Business Section also featured a piece that challenges the federal government’s current P3 push.
Here are the links to the articles:
P3 Schools’ Budget Doubles
Edmonton Journal
Architect Erases Himself from Hospital Design
The Gazette, Montreal
Beware P3 Rec Centres, Says Ottawa Councillor
Edmonton Journal
Why the Rush on P3s?
Globe and Mail
DeSmog
DeSmog is an initiative of Jim Hoggan, president of the PR firm James Hoggan & Associates, and chair of the David Suzuki Foundation. The aim of the site is to dispell climate change myths and counteract the public relations campaign that aims to cast doubt on climate change science. The site has an extensive database of information on high profile climate change skeptics and contains the latest news on climate change action and the consequences of inaction.