OSSTF/FEESO Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy

Instead of properly funding public education in Ontario, this government continues to play the blame-game, refusing to take responsibility for the fallout from their ongoing underfunding of the system. [...] 3 OSSTF/FEESO—Bill 98 Submission May 2023 If the government was truly intent on listening to Ontario’s parents, they would invest in smaller class sizes and properly fund the supports and programs necessary to ensure that every student has the resources necessary to thrive no matter where they live in the province. [...] Instead, this bill aims to increase Ministry overreach into the autonomy of education workers, teachers, and school boards, a tactic of this government continues to wield, despite how often it undermines the excellent work being done in the public education system. [...] Between 2017 and February 2023, OSSTF/FEESO made many substantive proposals, submissions, plans, commissioned reports, and letters to the Minister of Education and other members of the government caucus. [...] As the representative of over 60,000 front-line education workers and teachers, we hope the government will finally begin working with us in earnest so our schools can have the necessary resources and support that our students deserve and need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.