Letter sent to Minister of Education

February 04, 2010

February 4, 2010
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Education
Mowat Block, 22nd Flr, 900 Bay St
Toronto, ON
M7A 1L2
Fax: 416-325-6348

Dear Minister Dombrowsky,

Let me first congratulate you on your recent appointment as the Minister of Education and sincerely wish you the best luck in what is a great responsibility and very challenging portfolio.

I have been approached by countless Constituents lately on the fate of Barrie Central Collegiate. Barrie Central is the only high school in downtown Barrie and the last remaining public school in the downtown core (Prince of Wales Elementary is in its final year and slated for closing). The concern is certainly warranted especially considering the decision by the Simcoe County District School Board to send the matter to the Accommodation Review Committee. Historically, this usually means a school closure will not follow far behind.

Closing Barrie Central would put an additional 1,000 students into a system already stretched far too thin. Many feel strongly that adding to the overcrowding is going in exactly the wrong direction.

Recently your Government’s local MPP stated that these decisions are “the purview of the school board” and that she would not “step into that”.  It is regrettable that she could not see her way to advocate in some way for Barrie Central, but I take exception to her statement that “Places to Grow does not speak specifically about schools”.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on their own website states that “The Ontario government established the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to coordinate a strategic approach to planning for growth; manage the funding required to renew and rebuild Ontario’s public infrastructure, such as bridges, hospitals, schools and other public buildings;”

One will certainly find schools mentioned in “Simcoe Area: A Strategic Vision for Growth” (2009). This addendum builds on the Government of Ontario’s Growth Plan prepared under the Places to Grow Act (2005), as part of the government's initiative to plan for healthy and prosperous growth throughout Ontario.

In the opening sentences of section 1.2 titled “Building Strong, Vibrant Communities”, it reads:
“the Growth Plan will revitalize downtowns to become vibrant and convenient centres; create complete communities that offer more options for living, working, learning, shopping and playing”.

Section 3.1 titled “Strong and Vibrant Urban Nodes” is specific in addressing the need to focus on major institutional development, particularly in the downtown Barrie Urban Growth Centre and the need for “enhanced community services such as schools in these urban nodes”.

It is interesting to note that the Simcoe Area plan also called for a resolution to the Barrie-Innisfil boundary issue. Clearly the province intervened in this matter, in large part under the pretext of Places to Grow. I respectfully ask that the same rationale be applied here and allow your government to “step in” and help to save Barrie Central. At the very least, the province, with their ministries working together, can lead a partnership with other levels of government, local stakeholders and citizen groups to find a solution for Barrie Central other than closure.

I applaud your recent work as Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs in helping Ingersoll, through Ontario’s revitalization initiative. “Making Downtown Viable” found on the Ministry website shows how the province played a bigger role in Ingersoll’s transformation. With significant grant funding, they were able to address a number of downtown service areas like education, the arts and child services. I could not agree with you more when you say that "Local residents know what will make their municipality better”.

The Federal Government cares about downtown Barrie. Recently, the Government of Canada pledged $2.5 million for a new downtown theatre. Downtowns are the lifeblood of a community like Barrie. Taking this historic and vitally important Barrie institution out of the downtown will rip the heart out of our City.
 
Founded in 1843, too many have passed through these halls of learning to simply let it fall to the wreckers’ ball. Too many downtown residents rely on having a school close by for their children. Too many students need their voices heard. Please hear them.
Sincerely,


Patrick Brown – MP, Barrie
cc  -    Aileen Carroll, MPP
SCDSB