McGuinty Government Affirms Commitment To Community Groups To Access Schools in Kingston
Youth And Community Groups Continue to Benefit From Reduced Fees

KINGSTON — The McGuinty government is investing $360,180 in annual funding to help school boards in Kingston reduce or eliminate the fees youth and community groups pay to use Ontario’s schools after hours, announced MPP John Gerretsen.

“This investment will help keep the doors to our schools open for youth, adults and seniors of Kingston to access groups and programs in our communities,” said Gerretsen. “Making the space easier and more affordable for groups to access encourages the development of programs that foster a real sense of community pride.”

In 2006-07, the government committed to providing $20 million in annual funding for this program through its school operating grants. Additionally, school boards are helping community groups access school facilities more easily by providing application forms, rate schedules and contact information online. The Ministry of Education will also help with access by putting links to school board information on its website.

“By making school space more affordable and accessible, we are supporting healthy, active lifestyles and helping to build vital communities that offer Ontarians a higher quality of life,” said Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson.

Since the fall of 2004, the McGuinty government has provided funding to school boards to help defray the costs to community groups using school facilities. This funding has helped to reduce, or in some cases eliminate, the rates charged to community groups.

Provincewide results for the school year 2004-05 include:

• Agreements that (in some cases) produced a reduction in fees of 100 per cent.
• All boards have significantly reduced the hourly rates they charged for the use of double gymnasia, and 36 per cent of boards have totally eliminated these fees.
• All boards have significantly reduced their hourly Saturday custodial rates, and 56 per cent of school boards have totally eliminated these fees.

“Schools are important hubs in our communities. They are places where we can gather to learn, grow and play,” said Wynne. “Our community use of schools program is helping to ensure that our schools remain accessible and affordable to our communities.”

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For more information contact:
John Gerretsen, MPP
(613) 547-2385