On behalf of the CSBA Board of Directors, I am pleased to report that our recent advocacy event in Ottawa on October 3 – 5, 2023 was very successful.
In all, our delegation formally met with four Senators, fifteen Members of Parliament, as well as with representatives of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). Informally, we also had the pleasure of “bumping into” the Honourable Greg Fergus, the new Speaker of the House of Commons in front of Centre Block just prior to his very first Question Period in his new role.
The CSBA has valued these relationship-building opportunities in Ottawa for a number of years. As our group of board members and association representatives from across the country dispersed into our strategically selected smaller groups for each meeting, and then subsequently debriefed throughout the unseasonably hot days in Ottawa, there was a palpable sense of cautious optimism about what seems to be a shift in how school boards are received by our federal government colleagues.
Gone are the days when the introductory comments from an MP sounded like, “Education is a provincial priority – why are you here?” Or, “I’m not sure if we can do much for you, have you talked to your local Minister of Education?”
For many years now, we have learned from our experiences in Ottawa and adapted the planning for each subsequent annual event accordingly. Those with whom we are scheduled to meet are provided details on the CSBA strategic priorities in advance, and our own speaking notes are tailored to ensure that both parties walk away from the discussion feeling optimistic about further collaboration.
On matters related to Indigenous education, diversity, equity and inclusion, comprehensive school health and of course, advocacy for locally elected school boards, time and again we were able to highlight important opportunities for continued engagement and partnerships between school boards and provincial and federal governments.
We will be deliberate in sharing out more details with CSBA members in the coming weeks and months as the work continues to flow from our 2023 federal advocacy event.
Sincerely,
Alan Campbell, President