Premier Doug Ford's Ontario

[adma]

Isn't there planned GO rail to KW anyway?

But most routes Greyhound serves would be hard pressed to saturate an hourly GO bus much less justify rail service. I think you're more likely to build demand for rail by providing frequent 'just show up' (or at least 'don't have to plan your day around') bus service.

Yeah, never mind Toronto-to-KW. The real classic old-school Greyhound routes are/were the likes of Toronto-to-Pembroke--which'd be a *real* challenge by GO bus, and an impossibility by rail...

 

[old boy]

Yeah, never mind Toronto-to-KW. The real classic old-school Greyhound routes are/were the likes of Toronto-to-Pembroke--which'd be a *real* challenge by GO bus, and an impossibility by rail...

Actually, I remember taking the bus from TO to Pembroke when I lived in Camp Petawawa in the 60s and the stop at the Bancroft hotel.

 

[zang]

Isn't there planned GO rail to KW anyway?

There is, but for the most part, if you're not on the Lakeshore corridor, don't expect a fast, single ride unless it's a weekday during work hours. Part of GOs issues are that it's been designed primarily as a commuter service, and so "off hours" are bus only, and rarely a direct one. Those trains get parked and sit until Monday morning. It's part of the reason why routes to places like Guelph or Oshawa or Newmarket have packed Greyhound buses and routes every hour or so — because people don't want to take a one-hour bus ride that takes three. It could often be faster taking a bus from Waterloo to Hamilton and catching the Lakeshore train than taking the "direct" route offered by GO, which involved two busses and a wait in-between.

We have this mindset that GO trains *must* be 4-6 double-decker cars long. We could run smaller trains more frequently and service more areas this way. VIA trains already service commuters in areas serviced by GO. Create more and longer rail branches and run those branches every day of the week with smaller trains on off hours, and I guarantee you that GO ridership would go up.

It needn't (and shouldn't) be this hard to move people in this province. I was astounded with how frequent and how well integrated the regional train system was in France. Meanwhile, our train system has sat stagnant for decades while we're constantly catering to the car.

 

[lenaitch]

It needn't (and shouldn't) be this hard to move people in this province. I was astounded with how frequent and how well integrated the regional train system was in France. Meanwhile, our train system has sat stagnant for decades while we're constantly catering to the car.

A bit of ' comparing apples and bricks'. Ontario has twice the area with a quarter of the population.

GO was established as a GTA-centric commuter system. It has slightly evolved into an inter-regional carrier. Perhaps Ontario needs to make a policy (and funding) decision whether it wants to run a provincial passenger rail network and take it all on except that which crosses boundaries.

 

[W. K. Lis]

This TVO program brought to you by Deco Labels & Flexible Packaging. A Ford family company.

---

Doug Ford’s Government Wants TVO to ‘Commercialize’ Online Learning Content Designed for Ontario Schools​

Teachers and advocacy groups call the plan a ‘privatization scheme’ that will undermine public education

From link.

Documents from Ontario’s Ministry of Education mandate TVO manage online learning in public schools, but simultaneously insisting the public agency “commercialize” content produced by its online learning subsidiary — something teachers are calling a “privatization scheme.”

In 2016, the Ministry of Education secured an $84.2 million license with D2L, one of Canada’s most prominent online learning companies, on an agreement extendable to 2028 to host distance eLearning classes. The classes would be hosted by TVO’s longstanding distance education program, the Independent Learning Centre (ILC).

But “confidential” plans show the Ministry of Education wants to put TVO in charge of “central coordination” of all future eLearning offerings — instead of school boards.

People For Education Executive Director Annie Kidder said this could be a problem as TVO’s ILC programming is different from school board-led online learning.

“The significant step that’s being taken now is to actually put the control of online learning under the auspices of the Independent Learning Centre, removing online learning from where it mostly has been in Ontario — mostly run by school boards,” Kidder told PressProgress.

“There’s no real teacher learning or limit on class sizes with the ILC currently. That’s a huge 100% change.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392219209086668801

This year’s Grant For Student Needs (GSN) funding document, in addition to introducing a real cut to school board funding, also expanded TVO’s eLearning provision.

The GSN document states: “TVO and TFO are currently developing English-language and French-language elementary digital learning course packs, aligned with curriculum expectations for each subject in Grades 1-8 and Kindergarten.”

It also mandates TVO develop a “global strategy” to “market” Ontario online courses for sale.

The slideshow notes this change will help TVO “generate revenue.” It mandates TVO develop a “global strategy” to “market” Ontario online courses.

A year-end memo from the Ministry to TVO previously instructed the public agency to “explore opportunities to generate revenue including additional opportunities to commercialize and export its educational and digital products in other jurisdictions.”

Kidder said Ford’s government is looking to turn a profit on public education and TVO isn’t as accountable as public boards are.

“You’re talking about running a profit out of education,” Kidder said. “What one wonders is that because the ILC is not the government, it’s not accountable in the same way — what will limit the monetization they’re looking at?”

TVO’s most recent multiyear plan lists its intent to offer courses to private schools and to international students to boost revenues. The plan reads TVO will “expand ILC revenues” by:

“• Expanding international growth with an increased focus on packaging/bulk purchase and territory up-front commitments to help stabilize our ILC business revenue streams;
• Continue to expand private school, post-secondary and school board partnerships via custom package bundling and turn-key service offerings.”

A spokesperson for TVO told PressProgress it would make its K-12 offerings available free on its website in the coming months. But, the spokesperson also said:

“To continue to provide digital learning products and current affairs journalism in a financially sustainable manner, one of our objectives is to grow ILC revenues internationally by expanding secondary school course offerings and attracting new students. This international revenue generation partly offsets the cost of delivering our courses here in Ontario.”

Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association president Liz Stuart said the change appears to be an effort to erode and privatize public education.

“This privatization scheme undermines publicly funded education and the exemplary efforts of teachers and education workers who have gone above and beyond since the pandemic began to support the students in their care,” Stuart told PressProgress.

“COVID-19 and the Ford government’s mismanaged response has taken an extraordinary toll on our schools and communities.”

Ontario’s Ministry of Education did not respond to requests for comment.

 

[afransen]

There is, but for the most part, if you're not on the Lakeshore corridor, don't expect a fast, single ride unless it's a weekday during work hours. Part of GOs issues are that it's been designed primarily as a commuter service, and so "off hours" are bus only, and rarely a direct one. Those trains get parked and sit until Monday morning. It's part of the reason why routes to places like Guelph or Oshawa or Newmarket have packed Greyhound buses and routes every hour or so — because people don't want to take a one-hour bus ride that takes three. It could often be faster taking a bus from Waterloo to Hamilton and catching the Lakeshore train than taking the "direct" route offered by GO, which involved two busses and a wait in-between.

We have this mindset that GO trains *must* be 4-6 double-decker cars long. We could run smaller trains more frequently and service more areas this way. VIA trains already service commuters in areas serviced by GO. Create more and longer rail branches and run those branches every day of the week with smaller trains on off hours, and I guarantee you that GO ridership would go up.

It needn't (and shouldn't) be this hard to move people in this province. I was astounded with how frequent and how well integrated the regional train system was in France. Meanwhile, our train system has sat stagnant for decades while we're constantly catering to the car.

I thought 2WAD was planned for the Kitchener line as part of GO Expansion. It will only be hourly as far as Kitchener.

 

[W. K. Lis]

And Doug Ford wants to give this guy an "Order of Ontario" medal?

Catholic Sisterhood Calls For Mike Harris’ Removal From Board of For-Profit Long-Term Care Company ​

Sisters with the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary raise concerns about Chartwell’s corporate culture and treatment of frontline workers

From link.

The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary is calling for the removal of former Ontario Premier Mike Harris as chair of the board of directors of Chartwell, one of the province’s biggest for-profit long-term care operators, citing the company’s “unfair labour practices” and hundreds of resident deaths last year.

According to the Catholic Register, the Religious Congregation of women is behind a motion calling on Chartwell shareholders to reject Harris’ re-election as chair of the for-profit long-term care company’s board of directors as well as produce a health and safety report detailing the company’s treatment of workers.

Sisters raise concerns about Chartwell’s corporate culture: The Sisters of Loretto, who hold shares in Chartwell through their foundation The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, submitted the motion with the assistance of the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE), a group that advocates for socially responsible corporate policies.

“In light of significant legal, regulatory, financial and reputational risks, we are concerned that the board has not been providing sufficiently robust oversight of the company’s culture, strategy, and risk management,” SHARE wrote in recent filings with regulators.

“As the board chair, Michael D. Harris must be accountable for this state of affairs.”

Concerns over mistreatment of workers: Sister Evanne Hunter said the recent “revelation of (executive) bonuses was one trigger” for the motion, but said their main concern is working conditions for Chartwell’s personal support workers and other precariously employed staff.

“I think we all share the same concern about unfair labour practices,” Hunter said. “And it’s been particularly highlighted during the pandemic with respect to health-care workers. … I think it has to do with job insecurity, the wages, the fact that most of them are not full time, they’re not entitled to benefits, they’re poor, they have to work in more than one facility (to make a living),” Hunter told the Catholic Register.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1385209270749130755

Mike Harris “deeply valued”: But it does not sound like Chartwell executives are receptive to the Loretto Sisters’ concerns.

“Mr. Harris’ contributions to our board are deeply valued,” Chartwell spokesperson Sharon Ranalli told the Catholic Register. “Under current conditions, now is not the time for him to step down.”

Chartwell investors are exposed to significant risks: “Chartwell and the entire sector are at a pivotal turning point. The business is under unprecedented scrutiny. Chartwell and its investors are left exposed to significant legal, operational and reputational risks,” Anthony Schein, SHARE’s director of shareholder advocacy, told PressProgress.

“The harrowing impact of the pandemic is, in part, a result of the prior decisions that boards and management have made about employment, workforce structure, risk management, training, and priorities for capital expenditures. As the Board Chair for 18 years, Michael D. Harris must be accountable for this state of affairs.”

 

[Videodrome]

Outdoor sports amenities to open 'on or before' June 2: Elliott

Ontario's Minister of Health Christine Elliott says outdoor sports amenities will reopen in just over two weeks, possibly even before the province's stay-at-home order expires.

toronto.citynews.ca

Free the golfers!

 

[PinkLucy]

A pretty wishy washy statement from Elliott.

 

[DSC]

A pretty wishy washy statement from Elliott.

You expected what???

 

[DirectionNorth]

You expected what???

A super-duper-in huge amounts-very wishy-washy statement from Elliot.

 

[Thinker]

A pretty wishy washy statement from Elliott.

But Ford approved!!

 

[W. K. Lis]

A pretty wishy washy statement from Elliott.

`

From link.

 

[PinkLucy]

I am getting texts from people telling me Elliott said we’ll be opening up. I reply with the suggestion that they actually read / listen to what she said.

 

[EagleEye]

I hope every single golfer and tennis player remembers this petty, vindictive act. I have no issue with him extending the lockdown by 2 more weeks because our numbers are slowly going the right way but we need more people to get vaccinated. I don't want him to open things up for 2 weeks and then locking down again. But golf? They allowed golf last year with safety precautions. In tennis, yeah, you're close together playing doubles so maybe they can limit to singles where the players are far apart. At the closest point one is at the net and the other is at the baseline. Further apart than the circles in Trinity Bellwoods.