“The secret of education lies in respecting the student.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson IntroductionOn June 24, 2009, the Ontario Ministry of Education introduced Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) No. 119, entitled Developing and Implementing Equity and Inclusive Education Policies in Ontario Schools. In this article I will take a critical look at this policy using a combination of policy analysis approaches. Through my analysis I hope to examine both intended and unintended effects that may or may have resulted from the introduction and implementation of PPM 119. When I read this document when it first came out, I was very excited about the prospects of what education could mean in Ontario. The combination of time and knowledge I have gained through this course have allowed me to reflect on my initial thoughts on PPM 119. Understanding the identified issue addressed by the policy is the first step, examining how this policy fits into the historical context/political context of policy development in the province of Ontario, recognizing the impact of this education policy on Canada on the global stage and looking at how this policy was developed and presented to the public. The Context: The Political Context of PPM 119 Understanding the political landscape of the time can help analyze the how and why of the creation, implementation and impact of PPM 119. Over the past 20 years provincial leadership has moved from the “left” (Bob Rae, NDP) to the “right” (Mike Harris, Conservative) and finally moving to the “centre” (Dalton McGuinty, Liberal). The dramatic change in leadership and political agendas has left behind a wide range of education policies, all of which...... half of paper ......d Inclusive education in Ontario schools: guidelines for policy development and implementation. Toronto, Ontario: Ontario Ministry of Education.http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/inclusiveguide.pdfPinto, L., Boler, M., & Norris, T. (2007) . Literacy is just reading and writing, isn't it? The Ontario secondary school literacy test and its press coverage. Political Futures in Education, 5(1), 84-99.Thomas, S. (2004). Reconfiguring the public sphere: Implications for educational policy analysis. British Journal of Educational Studies, 52(3), 228-248. Torres, C. (1996). State and education revisited Why educational researchers should think politically about education. Review of education research: 1995-1996 (pp. 255-331). .: AERA.Whitty, G. (1997). Creating quasi-markets in education. Review of education research (pp. 3-47). Washington DC: AERA.