2009/03/09 (3) The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
12esolutaon
March 9, 2009
No. 8
Moved by Councillor Thomson
Seconded by Councillor Maves
WHEREAS Labour Day falls on September 7"' this year, the latest possible day it can fall on; and
WHEREAS the day after Labour Day is traditionally the start of the school year; and
WHEREAS the Education Act requires 194 days of instruction far Ontario students; and
WHEREAS to accommodate the 194 days ofinstruction some school boards are contemplating starting
the school year the week before Labour Day; and
WHEREAS an early start to the school year will have negative social and economic ramifications; and
WHEREAS an early start to the school year will mean additional day-care costs for some parents; and
WHEREAS an early start to the school year will mean that most students, who depend on income
earned through summer jobs, will have to end their employment early; and
WHEREAS the local tourist industry is dependent on the student labour force and dependent on
students to wark until Labour Day; and
WHEREAS Labour Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest, if not the busiest, weekend of the
tourist season; and
WHEREAS many tourism operators depend on Labour Day weekend to determine whether they have
had a successful season; and
WHEREAS an early start to the school year will mean Ontario families will be less likely to travel on
the traditionally busy week prior to school starting; and
WHEREAS tourism is one of th pillars of the Ontario economy and contributes more to provincial
Gross Domestic Product than the entire primary sector, according to Discovering Ontario, u Repor~ on
the Future ofTourism; and
WHEREAS the decrease in travelers will have detrimental economic effects on the Ontario economy.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that school boards maintain the traditional start ofthe school year,
the day after Labour Day; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that schooi boards investigate ways of accommodating 194 days of
instruction without resorting to starting school prior to Labour Day; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that school boards look at Chrishnas vacation, reduction of
professional development days and longer school days as ways of fulfilling the required days of
instruction without starting school prior to Labour Day; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that iF school boards are not successful maintaining the traditional
start of the school year that the Minister of Education mandate a solution; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Education look at amendments to the E'ducalion
Act that will allow flexibility in the number of days of instrucrion when there is a"late" Labour Day;
and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the Premier, Minister of Education and
the local school boards.
Carried Unanimouslv
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed.
- ~
~
~
EAN IO IDA R. T. (TED) SALCI
CITY C ERK MAYOR