Ontario’s high quality public education system presents a distinct economic advantage for the province.
In fact, it’s one of the key drivers of why Ontario has been so successful in attracting business.
Simply put – our strong public education system is the reason Ontarians enjoy a high standard of living.
But following the tabling of Thursday’s provincial budget at Queen’s Park, it’s now crystal clear that the quality education system that Ontarians expect and deserve is increasingly under threat from the Premier Doug Ford.
This government has made cuts to education by the billions time and time again, instead of investing in Ontario students and the public education system.
Since 2018 Ford has been intentionally underfunding and underspending in education.
Yesterday’s budget was an opportunity to address the Financial Accountability Office’s prediction of a $6 billion shortfall in education over the next few years as well as the $16.8 billion school repair backlog. But instead, yet again, Ford chose to shortchange education.
Ontario students are dealing with the negative impacts of this government’s choices every day.
Every time we turn around, it seems this government has a new way of shortchanging students – from sitting on billions of federal dollars given to Ontario to support education during the pandemic, to taking billions out of classrooms and schools to hand it out individually to parents for a few private tutoring sessions.
In addition, students are dealing with cuts to essential supports and services, especially for students with special needs.
There are reports of some students who require additional supports being sent home from school because there are not enough staff available to help them.
Students are also dealing with cuts to mental health services at a time when young people are experiencing record high rates of depression and anxiety.
A recent “People for Education” report, revealed that more than 90 per cent of Ontario’s school principals reported their students needed greater access to mental health supports and services.
These are only a few of many examples of the impacts of Ford’s staffing shortages in Ontario’s schools – these shortages cannot become normalized.
Ontarians deserve a public education system with equitable access to learning for all students of all abilities and it’s caring professionals who make this possible. We owe a lot of the system’s success to the efforts and dedication of teachers and education workers.
But with the continued cuts to public education in the 2023 provincial budget, and a failure to keep up with inflation, Ontario will end up with even fewer caring staff members in our schools and on our campuses and even less mental health supports for students.
Is this really the best Ontario can do?
Education is one of our best investments, creating $1.30 in positive economic benefits for every $1 invested as well as lowering costs across social services.
Every dollar unspent in education is a $1.30 wasted in positive economic growth and student success.
This week’s budget was a disappointment in large part because we know the best way that to ensure our continued prosperity and success well into the future is to invest in education, students, and education workers.
The global economy is becoming more competitive everyday – we can’t stand idly by while this government allows Ontario to fall behind.
Karen Littlewood is President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO)
