Gerard Mao Kennedy, Ontario's "Nutritionist-at-Large"

I had to republish a very droll release sent out Wednesday by "Hollywood" Frank Klees, Ontario's Opposition Education Critic, deriding the Education Minister's recently announced Orwellian food policy (about which I ranted below). The original can be found on www.ontariopc.com.

Kennedy Assumes "Official Parent" Role

20/10/2004

Frank Klees, MPP
OAK RIDGES

Education Critic

Frank Klees, MPP for Oak Ridges and Education Critic for the Official Opposition today accused Education Minister, Gerard Kennedy, of appointing himself Ontario's "Official Parent".

"What leading edge thinking has led to today's pronouncement that the Minister of Education is assuming the role of "Official Parent" for Ontario's children?" said Klees, and "What equips this Minister of Education with the omniscient wisdom to proclaim himself the "Nutritionist-at-Large" for the province?"

Klees accused the Education Minister of undermining school boards, school councils and parents with his announcement that he will dictate what foods are available in Ontario schools.

"While Premier McGuinty talks about restoring democracy at the local level with school board trustees, his Minister of Education, Gerard Kennedy is dictating what can and cannot be done in schools - another broken promise," says Klees. "He isn't returning democracy to school boards. Once again, this government and in particular, Minister Kennedy, are demonstrating their belief that government knows better than parents, school boards and school councils what is best for their children."

"This pronouncement is clearly just another way of the government assuming parenting responsibilities," Klees continued.

Cathy Cove, Director of the Parent Network, also questions the initiative stating, "As a parent, I'd like the Liberals to leave the parenting to me, and leave the day-to-day operations of schools up to the people most affected by them...the principals, teachers and parents."

Klees points out that the new curriculum that the PC government put in place has grade-by-grade education on nutrition/health and physical activity and emphasizes that it is more important for kids to learn what is healthy, rather than attempting to micro-manage the contents of vending machines in every school of our Province.

"The Liberals are undermining the work of school councils, which is where these decisions should be made," Klees adds.

Klees challenged the Minister to focus on his responsibilities as Education Minister, rather than continuing to undermine the authority of school boards, school councils and parents, to improve the quality of education.