School boards unaffected by fund cancellation

Peterborough and area public and Catholic school boards are unaffected by the cancellation of a $100 million provincial fund earmarked for school repairs this year, representatives confirmed Tuesday morning.

Ontario’s newly minted Progressive Conservative government cancelled the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund because of Premier Doug Ford’s campaign promise to scrap the province’s cap-and-trade-system.

It notified school boards July 3 the fund would be eliminated and only work contracted on or before that date would be covered. Funds were allocated in April.

“Please maintain detailed records of the contracts that have been signed as ministry staff will contact boards to collect information on the scope of the work underway,” stated a memo obtained by The Canadian Press.

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board signed contracts for about $236,000 prior to that date, so it was not affected, said business and finance supervisor Isabel Grace.

The board is using the money to install voltage harmonizers – which save energy by reducing a building’s voltage while keeping it within standard industry specifications – at three of its larger facilities, she said.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board had three projects sourcing the fund – updates to school boilers – but the contracts were completed early in the spring, spokesman Greg Kidd said.

The Toronto District School Board – which reportedly has a $4-billion repair backlog – budgeted $300 million for upkeep this year, $25 million of which was awarded from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.