Petition Campaign
Commencing September 2006
Education Equality in Ontario, in collaboration with several other Ontario organizations and individuals, was involved in the design and launch of a petition campaign to promote a single public school system for each official language (English and French). We are united in believing that a merger of Ontario's public and separate schools systems is the only practical and affordable way to fully address the discrimination and wastefulness that characterize our present school system.
Ontario currently has four independent publicly-funded school systems. A move from four systems to two, one English and one French, would ensure better stewardship of the funding committed to the education of Ontario's children and help to maximize the academic potential of every child.
We encourage all of our supporters to participate in this campaign. This petition can be undertaken as an individual initiative or through a supportive organization (school council, community group, or religious group).
Although those participating in the petition campaign are free to submit their petitions whenever they wish, we are urging everyone to hold on to their petition sheets until such time as we collectively have a significant number to present at a joint news conference in Toronto. The plan is for petition participants from across the province to meet in Toronto to jointly announce the submission of their petitions to members of the Ontario Legislature. If you cannot attend personally, please contact us to arrange to have your petition sheets delivered to that news conference.
Several individuals may collaborate in obtaining signatures and then combine their petition sheets for submission to us or to someone else who is planning to attend the joint news conference in Toronto.
Don't forget also to write, email, or phone your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). It is very important that they hear their constituent's concerns over the waste and discrimination in our school system. Letter writing advice is available on the Letters 101 section of our web site. Follow the link at the bottom of the page for hints and tips for writing to Ontario MPPs in particular.
You may obtain the name of your MPP on the Elections Ontario web site: Find Your Electoral District. Contact information for individual MPPs is available on the Ontario Legislature web site: Members of Provincial Parliament.
The petition (legal and letter size versions) and a related explanatory document to help address questions related to the petition are available at the following links:
Petition - Legal size paper (10 signatures per page)
Petition - Letter size paper (5 signatures per page)
Point by Point: The "One Public School System for Ontario" Petition
Need a reader for PDF files? Click here.
We have also prepared a pamplet that can be distributed in areas to be canvassed for the petition a few days before the canvassing. The distribution of the pamphlet ahead of the canvassing may expedite visits on the doorstep. It also provides a way to raise awareness of our issue at public events, particularly during the current municipal election campaign. The pamplet is available at the following link:
One School System Pamphlet
Need a viewer for Microsoft Word documents? Click here.
Some general guidelines:- Anyone signing the petition must be an Ontario resident. No one may sign on behalf of another. Only original signatures are acceptable (no photocopies).
- Ideally, petitions should be collected from the residents of a single electoral district and presented through the MPP for that district.
- The entire petition text must be repeated in full on every page of the petition. Please use the petition sheets provided.
- There is no minimum age for signatories, but we believe that those signing should at least be old enough to understand the petition. Age 16 and up is probably appropriate. By that age, young adults can certainly appreciate the benefits that one system can bring to our school system and to our society. Most have a strong sense of social justice.
- While the Ontario Legislature has no minimum for the number of signatures required on a petition, we believe that individuals should submit petitions with no fewer than 50 signatures (100 is better) and organizations with no fewer than 100. The more the better. Remember that many hands make light work.
- Bring the petition forward at your school council and school functions. Parents have a right to express their ideas for improving our school system. They and their children are the primary stakeholders.
- Canvass for signatures with a friend. Have one person work each side of a street or different ends of a crowd. Working together and discussing what works and what doesn't in terms of presentation makes for a more pleasant and effective experience.
- Canvass friends, colleagues, and relatives for signatures in addition to members of the public at large. Don't forget your spouse!
- Enlist friends for help in getting signatures. Leave them a 5 signature (letter size) or 10 signature (legal size) petition sheet and ask them to get it filled. Many families can get 5 adult signatures in their immediate household. Pool such sheets together to achieve the 50 or more needed to make a submission through your MPP.
- Enlist enthusiastic supporters. Some people will very enthusiastically embrace the one system idea. Ask them if they could help you get signatures. Leave petition sheets with them or tell them where they can find them on the web (here or on another web site). Offer to pick the sheets up when completed to submit with your own.
- Patiently explain the initiative in response to questions, but be careful not to waste your time either. If someone is obviously unsupportive and looking for a debate, politely thank them for their time and move along.
- Be cheerful and polite at all times.
- Finally, send us an email with any questions you have. Also let us know when you submit your petition to your MPP for presentation to the Legislature. We would like to be kept informed of how many petitions and signatures are crossing the desk of different MPPs. We will be watching Hansard to see when the petitions are presented. Ask your MPP's office to inform you when your petition has been presented.
Of Note:- MPPs cannot be compelled to submit petitions, but most will submit even those petitions they disagree with, indicating in the Legislature whether they sign in support of the petition or simply present it on behalf of their constituents. In the rare case where an MPP does refuse to present your petition, please let us know. We will help you to find an alternate MPP to submit your petition on your behalf.
"Within 24 sitting days of the day on which the presentation of the petition is recorded in the Votes and Proceedings, the government is required to file a response to the petition with the Clerk of the House and to provide a copy of the response to the M.P.P. who presented the petition. The response of the government is also noted in the Votes and Proceedings."
Ask your MPP for a copy of this response when you submit your petition for presentation to the Legislature.
Copyright © 2006 Education Equality in Ontario. All Rights Reserved.
