Drummond report of deficit-slashing proposals due Wednesday

A report commissioned by the McGuinty government on ways to trim Ontario’s $16-billion deficit is recommending eliminating all-day kindergarten, raising school class sizes and a host of other education reforms.

Don Drummond’s 700-page report, which makes more than 360 recommendations, will be released Wednesday.

According to the Toronto Star, Drummond recommends raising the number of students allowed per classroom – it currently sits at 20 – and rolling back the new 30 per cent cut to tuition for college and university students.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said Monday the province won’t scrap all-day kindergarten.  But the government has already proposed closing Ontario Place to save about $20 million a year, selling the property housing the LCBO’s head office in Toronto, outsourcing Service Ontario in-person locations and rescinding the $345 million a year funding for the 17 horse racetracks.

The province should increase funding in only one area: Aboriginal education, the former TD bank economist suggested.

Drummond has told Premier Dalton McGuinty the province will have to cap the overall increase in government spending at one per cent a year until the deficit is eliminated in 2017-18.

With files from The Canadian Press

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