New bill gives Ford government authority to sell underused schools in Ontario for housing

The Ford government has tabled new legislation that will give it the power to convert underutilized schools in Ontario into affordable housing, or sell off the properties on the open market, in a major overhaul of education policies.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce tabled the new bill, called the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, at Queen’s Park on Monday.

Lecce said the bill would allow the government to “better maximize” its real estate portfolio, adding that the government doesn’t have an inventory of available schools.

“My point is we can do things better. It should not take a decade to build a school in the city of Toronto or in a small community, or suburban community,” Lecce said.

Currently, school boards that declare a property as surplus are required to offer it up to other public-sector bodies such as other schools, colleges and universities, municipalities and the Ontario government.

The law would place the province at the front of the line, giving itself the first right of refusal, along with the power to determine the final outcome, while limiting its usage. If the property is not needed by another school board, Lecce said, it would be taken over by the Ministry of Infrastructure and could be used for either long-term care or affordable housing.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9628804/ontario-to-introduce-legislation-to-refocus-education-system/
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