This interview took countless emails and several months to arrange. This was before I got on to Toronto's Supercouncil, so I suppose it would be somewhat simpler now. In the end, it was really nice how he answered each question in-depth.
My Interview with Premier Dalton McGuinty
1. What did you aspire to be when you were in high school?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor. I grew up in a large family. I have nine brothers and sisters … and that’s a lot of dirty dishes. My mom would ask me, as one of the oldest, to help out a lot around the house. I would say to her “but mom, these are surgeon’s hands.”
My mother would have been happy if I’d followed that path. She had plans for her sons to become doctors and physiotherapists and dentists, so we could look after her. But we became lawyers instead.
A lot of people don’t know this but I actually went to university for biology. It’s funny how life turns out.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to be. You’ll find your place … or it will find you.
2. What made you head down the political path?
I have been fortunate because I found my biggest sources of inspiration right at home. My mom and dad showed me a solid work ethic, and taught us all to always look out for those around us.
My father was the MPP for Ottawa South — where I am MPP now — and taught us about the value of public service so I was inspired to follow in his footsteps.
I asked for this job so I can make changes to improve the quality of life for all Ontarians. Especially changes to improve education, to improve the quality of our health care and to build on the strength of our economy.
There was a saying in my family: “None of us is as strong as all of us working together.”
I got into public service because I want to make sure that every Ontarian finds the opportunity they need to succeed here. And we can only do that when we work, build and dream together.
3. What do you like about your job?
This is the best job there is, but I have no idea how long I’ll get to do it. So I’m enjoying it — the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows — and I always try to do what I won’t regret later.
And it doesn’t really matter what the world throws at us — I know Ontarians will always find a way to rise above.
What I really enjoy about the job is when I’m doing things that I know have a connection right in Ontario homes. So when we work together to bring class sizes down, or get kids with learning difficulties a little bit more help, or help families make their homes more ‘green’, or a grandmother or grandfather have a shorter wait-time for a hip replacement, those are the kinds of things I like best.
Those are the things that really make me feel good about the job of Premier.
4. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
The most challenging part of the job is just trying to stay normal. There are so many demands that are unlike those most people have to grapple with — both in terms of time, and duties. You’ve got to show up at events, you’ve got to give speeches, and some days I think I actually spend more time talking to the media than to my own kids. Well, how normal is that?
5. Gun violence stemming from gang activity is an issue in many Ontario communities. What do you plan to do in schools to target this issue?
As a father, when I hear stories of young lives cut short by senseless gun violence it affects me deeply and personally.
And as Premier, I have a responsibility to take action, to get the guns off the streets, to show young people better choices and to put criminals who use guns in jail.
I believe in you. I believe that if given the right opportunities, you will make the right choices. That’s why we’re working hard to create opportunities for our young people.
Our government is committed to being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.
Over the next four years, we will double funding for our community use of schools program, so that space for after-school activities is affordable for all Ontario families and free in communities that need it most.
We’ve raised the school dropout age from 16 to 18 years old and supported that with new kinds of learning opportunities both inside and outside of school. Obviously, you’ll have a better life if you finish high school.
We will continue to work with police and community groups to add more prevention initiatives to our safe-schools strategy.
We have launched the $45 million Youth Challenge Fund and the $28.5 million Youth Opportunities Strategy to give young people, especially those in at risk communities, real opportunities to achieve a brighter future.
If there is even more we can do to make our students, schools and communities safer - and help young people make good choices - we have a responsibility to do everything we can.
We have to keep working together to get the guns off of our streets to create safer streets.
Gun violence is wrong - plain and simple. We cannot and will not become complacent in any way. We will continue to do all that we can to fight gun violence. Young people who pick up a gun will face the full force of the law.
6. Will you be proposing any new plans that will enhance the education in high schools in your new term?
Young people are our most precious resource, so when we invest in your education, we invest in our shared future.
We will build on our successes by expanding after-school homework help and introducing online homework help.
We will also expand Specialist High Skills Majors that will let you bundle courses to prepare for specific careers. You can also take advantage of dual credit programs, expanded co-operative education and innovative Lighthouse projects that could include credit recovery and alternative education.
Students are also receiving better support through new Student Success Teams, a dedicated team that provides extra attention and support when needed, and a new Grade 8-9 transition plan.
7. How are you targeting students that are dropping out and planning to drop out of high school?
We won’t give up on you.
Our government will continue working to improve graduation rates in our high schools, and ensure more young people keep learning beyond high school.
We will raise the graduation rate to 85 per cent by 2010 by expanding learning options for all students and by providing focused supports for students who are struggling academically and students at risk of dropping out.
Our government has introduced the Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy that helps you stay in school until age 18.
8. What do you think about money going towards private religious schools?
Our government believes that our schools should be places where all our young people, from all faiths, come together to learn from one another and grow together.
I see tremendous diversity in our publicly funded schools. And that diversity is a tremendous source of strength for Ontario, as long as we continue to come together as Ontarians, the way we do in our publicly funded schools.
It would be wrong to disrupt the education of almost two million students — 95 per cent of all the students in Ontario, including the majority of students from every faith.
It would be wrong to divert our funds, and our energies, from our publicly funded schools to private religious schools.
We are focusing our resources, and our resolve on improving our publicly funded schools.
9. Students are becoming more environmentally aware as schools are bringing this issue into the classrooms - is Ontario aware?
There is a proverb that says “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Nothing is more important to our success, our quality of life, our future, and even our survival, than a clean, strong, healthy environment.
When it comes to climate change, it’s true that we can’t do everything. But we can all do something. We can all take action in our homes, in how we get around and in our schools and businesses.
We have launched two websites — http://www.obviously.ca/ for secondary students and www.ontario.ca/ezone for elementary students — that explain the challenges facing our planet and how you can take action to protect the environment.
We will make schools greener. We will make sure all new schools will conform to better energy efficiency standards. We are putting in place all of the recommendations of our Curriculum Council so that environmental education is part of every student's learning.
10. What message would you like to leave the students of Martingrove Collegiate Institute with?
I want to thank the students of Martingrove Collegiate for all your hard work. I want you to know that anything is possible. I mean anything.
When I was growing up, one of the things my parents impressed upon me was that all you had to do was work very hard and nothing could hold you back.
They taught us that where you start out in life is not relevant and that what counts is how hard you take hold of your opportunities to succeed.
You can overcome any obstacle — if you dream big, work hard and seize every opportunity.
I believe in you. With your energy, your enthusiasm, and your idealism, you have what it takes to build an even better Ontario, with a more prosperous economy, and a stronger society, in the years ahead.
Our job is to equip you with the education and skills you need so you can each reach your full potential.
My Interview with Premier Dalton McGuinty
1. What did you aspire to be when you were in high school?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor. I grew up in a large family. I have nine brothers and sisters … and that’s a lot of dirty dishes. My mom would ask me, as one of the oldest, to help out a lot around the house. I would say to her “but mom, these are surgeon’s hands.”
My mother would have been happy if I’d followed that path. She had plans for her sons to become doctors and physiotherapists and dentists, so we could look after her. But we became lawyers instead.
A lot of people don’t know this but I actually went to university for biology. It’s funny how life turns out.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to be. You’ll find your place … or it will find you.
2. What made you head down the political path?
I have been fortunate because I found my biggest sources of inspiration right at home. My mom and dad showed me a solid work ethic, and taught us all to always look out for those around us.
My father was the MPP for Ottawa South — where I am MPP now — and taught us about the value of public service so I was inspired to follow in his footsteps.
I asked for this job so I can make changes to improve the quality of life for all Ontarians. Especially changes to improve education, to improve the quality of our health care and to build on the strength of our economy.
There was a saying in my family: “None of us is as strong as all of us working together.”
I got into public service because I want to make sure that every Ontarian finds the opportunity they need to succeed here. And we can only do that when we work, build and dream together.
3. What do you like about your job?
This is the best job there is, but I have no idea how long I’ll get to do it. So I’m enjoying it — the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows — and I always try to do what I won’t regret later.
And it doesn’t really matter what the world throws at us — I know Ontarians will always find a way to rise above.
What I really enjoy about the job is when I’m doing things that I know have a connection right in Ontario homes. So when we work together to bring class sizes down, or get kids with learning difficulties a little bit more help, or help families make their homes more ‘green’, or a grandmother or grandfather have a shorter wait-time for a hip replacement, those are the kinds of things I like best.
Those are the things that really make me feel good about the job of Premier.
4. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
The most challenging part of the job is just trying to stay normal. There are so many demands that are unlike those most people have to grapple with — both in terms of time, and duties. You’ve got to show up at events, you’ve got to give speeches, and some days I think I actually spend more time talking to the media than to my own kids. Well, how normal is that?
5. Gun violence stemming from gang activity is an issue in many Ontario communities. What do you plan to do in schools to target this issue?
As a father, when I hear stories of young lives cut short by senseless gun violence it affects me deeply and personally.
And as Premier, I have a responsibility to take action, to get the guns off the streets, to show young people better choices and to put criminals who use guns in jail.
I believe in you. I believe that if given the right opportunities, you will make the right choices. That’s why we’re working hard to create opportunities for our young people.
Our government is committed to being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.
Over the next four years, we will double funding for our community use of schools program, so that space for after-school activities is affordable for all Ontario families and free in communities that need it most.
We’ve raised the school dropout age from 16 to 18 years old and supported that with new kinds of learning opportunities both inside and outside of school. Obviously, you’ll have a better life if you finish high school.
We will continue to work with police and community groups to add more prevention initiatives to our safe-schools strategy.
We have launched the $45 million Youth Challenge Fund and the $28.5 million Youth Opportunities Strategy to give young people, especially those in at risk communities, real opportunities to achieve a brighter future.
If there is even more we can do to make our students, schools and communities safer - and help young people make good choices - we have a responsibility to do everything we can.
We have to keep working together to get the guns off of our streets to create safer streets.
Gun violence is wrong - plain and simple. We cannot and will not become complacent in any way. We will continue to do all that we can to fight gun violence. Young people who pick up a gun will face the full force of the law.
6. Will you be proposing any new plans that will enhance the education in high schools in your new term?
Young people are our most precious resource, so when we invest in your education, we invest in our shared future.
We will build on our successes by expanding after-school homework help and introducing online homework help.
We will also expand Specialist High Skills Majors that will let you bundle courses to prepare for specific careers. You can also take advantage of dual credit programs, expanded co-operative education and innovative Lighthouse projects that could include credit recovery and alternative education.
Students are also receiving better support through new Student Success Teams, a dedicated team that provides extra attention and support when needed, and a new Grade 8-9 transition plan.
7. How are you targeting students that are dropping out and planning to drop out of high school?
We won’t give up on you.
Our government will continue working to improve graduation rates in our high schools, and ensure more young people keep learning beyond high school.
We will raise the graduation rate to 85 per cent by 2010 by expanding learning options for all students and by providing focused supports for students who are struggling academically and students at risk of dropping out.
Our government has introduced the Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy that helps you stay in school until age 18.
8. What do you think about money going towards private religious schools?
Our government believes that our schools should be places where all our young people, from all faiths, come together to learn from one another and grow together.
I see tremendous diversity in our publicly funded schools. And that diversity is a tremendous source of strength for Ontario, as long as we continue to come together as Ontarians, the way we do in our publicly funded schools.
It would be wrong to disrupt the education of almost two million students — 95 per cent of all the students in Ontario, including the majority of students from every faith.
It would be wrong to divert our funds, and our energies, from our publicly funded schools to private religious schools.
We are focusing our resources, and our resolve on improving our publicly funded schools.
9. Students are becoming more environmentally aware as schools are bringing this issue into the classrooms - is Ontario aware?
There is a proverb that says “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Nothing is more important to our success, our quality of life, our future, and even our survival, than a clean, strong, healthy environment.
When it comes to climate change, it’s true that we can’t do everything. But we can all do something. We can all take action in our homes, in how we get around and in our schools and businesses.
We have launched two websites — http://www.obviously.ca/ for secondary students and www.ontario.ca/ezone for elementary students — that explain the challenges facing our planet and how you can take action to protect the environment.
We will make schools greener. We will make sure all new schools will conform to better energy efficiency standards. We are putting in place all of the recommendations of our Curriculum Council so that environmental education is part of every student's learning.
10. What message would you like to leave the students of Martingrove Collegiate Institute with?
I want to thank the students of Martingrove Collegiate for all your hard work. I want you to know that anything is possible. I mean anything.
When I was growing up, one of the things my parents impressed upon me was that all you had to do was work very hard and nothing could hold you back.
They taught us that where you start out in life is not relevant and that what counts is how hard you take hold of your opportunities to succeed.
You can overcome any obstacle — if you dream big, work hard and seize every opportunity.
I believe in you. With your energy, your enthusiasm, and your idealism, you have what it takes to build an even better Ontario, with a more prosperous economy, and a stronger society, in the years ahead.
Our job is to equip you with the education and skills you need so you can each reach your full potential.
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