While Trump’s tariffs, housing and health care have received plenty of attention during the Ontario election campaign, educators say voters should pay more attention to where the major parties stand on the province’s public school system.
“Investing in a good education system is the foundation of any society. And we need a government that has a vision for that, a renewed vision for public education,” said Karen Brown, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.
Each major opposition party has made several education pledges, including increased funding.
The NDP and Green Party have both pledged to add $1,500 in funding per elementary and secondary school student — the amount they say was cut from the education system under the PC government. The Liberals have promised an unspecified amount of per-student funding.
In contrast, the Progressive Conservatives haven’t released any details of its education plans.
That’s concerning for Brown at the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
“They have not rolled out an education platform, so we don’t know where they’re going and that should be a concern for Ontarians,” she said.
Public education not properly funded under PCs: union
PC Leader Doug Ford was asked about his party’s plans for education on the first day of his campaign, where he touted his incumbent government’s record of funding education and hiring more school staff.
“This government has put more into education than any government in the history of Ontario,” he said.
“We have great schools, brand new schools, and supporting our students. That’s exactly what we’re gonna do for education. We’re gonna continue investing in education.
That answer wasn’t satisfying to Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation.
Littlewood said under the PC’s leadership, public education hasn’t been properly funded, which has impacts across the system.
“It has had a massive impact where directors, superintendents, school board associations, everybody is speaking out,” she said.
“It’s not just a union thing. The students of the province are suffering because of these cuts.”
Food programs, building repairs also among parties’ pledges
Beyond increased funding, the parties’ campaign promises have also touched on food programs, class sizes and school building repairs.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles has promised to implement a province-wide school food program, while the Liberals under Bonnie Crombie have promised to quadruple funding for school food programs.
The Liberals would also bring back a one-year teaching degree to get new teachers into the system.
The Ontario Green Party under Mike Schreiner has committed to lowering class sizes and making sure rural families can afford child care.
All three parties have also pledged to clear the province’s school repair backlog. That could be a tough task given the price tag of $31.4 billion over 10 years, according to the province’s fiscal watchdog.