1. CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
BACKGROUNDER
SPECIAL REPORT TO THE ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN
BACKGROUNDER CONTINUED ...
The Ontario Ombudsman common with the Integrity Commissioner and Information & Privacy Commissioner act on behalf of groups of individuals whom feel that
they have been discriminated due to prolonged and sustained systemic barriers. Recently, former Minister of Education, Gerard Kennedy, was served by public
notice about systemic barriers in the education system. Since he stepped down from office in June 2005, and wrote back to her at that time, she has received a
non-response since that time. In the last few days, commissionaires in the Ontario government were served with notice of our complaint to the Ontario
Government regarding an outstanding administrative application for Judicial Review before Divisional Court for Ontario.
In the suitable resolution that she proposed this week, included noting York officials in default until her service of materials now before the Ontario Court system is
accounted for. The complaints received by the Ontario Ombudsman, Integrity Commissioner, and Information & Privacy Commissioner reveal that the origins of
the prolonged and sustained barriers are at the root of evil in our education system. Unless and until there is consensus about effective government policies and
program development then post secondary institutions like York University will continue to approve not necessarily the Ontario Student Assistance Program but
also scholarships and bursaries offered through the Government of Canada that pertain to students with special needs.
The Canadian Federation of Students and member societies such as ProBono Law Student Canada served her with legal notice of the expanded investigation this
means. To reiterate; in the words of this former student leader, we do not consent any other 'watchdog' and that includes the PGT unless and until we hear from
York University. The Ombudsman investigation would be scheduled to take place over the next few weeks. Individuals who are considered enrolled recent
graduates are asked to contribute any information that they think might be relevant to the Ombudsman office.
04/09/2009 00:00 EST Posted by : Rosemary DeCaires