No more cuts: NDP urges Ford to support Ontario’s students

QUEEN'S PARK – Official Opposition NDP Critic for Education, Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West—Nepean), is condemning the Ford Conservatives' approach to education in Ontario, highlighting nearly 500 recent job losses at the Peel District School Board (PDSB) and the broader underfunding issues plaguing the province's schools.

"Thanks to Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce, funding for education has plummeted by $1,200 per student since 2018. This relentless strangulation of school budgets forces boards to make difficult decisions, including laying off essential staff and depriving our children of the support they urgently need in the classroom.

The Peel District School Board has been caught in this whirlpool of underfunding, resorting to tapping into reserves to bridge immense deficits. Now, with government underfunding compounded by the loss of critical COVID relief funding, we witness the departure of hundreds of educational assistants and early childhood educators. All this unfolds at a time when these roles are already alarmingly understaffed within Peel schools.

Amidst three tumultuous years and a troubling surge in violence and mental health challenges within our schools, our children demand unwavering support, not endless budget cuts. Ford and Lecce must prioritize investing in our schools, guaranteeing that compassionate Educational Assistants (EAs) and Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are accessible to every child in need."

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“Education workers have had to fight the current government for their rights and the respect they deserve, only to be met with termination. We do not do this job for the money because, let’s face it, the money isn’t there. We do this job because we are dedicated to supporting students and providing the supports they deserve.” - Melody Hurtubise, OPSEU Local 2100 President.