Ontario parents can look forward to receiving extra funds from the Provincial Government in the next two years!

BY PAUL JUNOR

Elizabeth Dowdeswell made the announcement in the Ontario Legislature noting that there will be an extra $225 million that some Ontario parents will get in direct payments in the next two years. She states,

“This funding, which will put money directly into parents’ pockets, is on top of the more than $26.6 billion the province is investing in public education, the most ever in Ontario history.”

There has been confirmation from the Ministry of Finance that there will be this extra funding although details have not been finalized, but will be coming soon.

Peter Bethenfalvy, Ontario Finance Minister states that this funding is needed in order to make up for the learning gaps that Ontario students experienced during the past two years. He notes

“We’ll have more details in regards to how we’re going to roll out that program, but let me tell you this, we’re going to listen to parents, we’re going to listen to many people to say what’s the best way we can deliver the right type of funding to support parents.”

About $980 million was allocated previously to help parents alleviate increased educational expenses as a result of virtual learning in the 2021 budget. Parents received $400 per child for kids up to Grade 12 and $500 for children under the age of 21 who have special needs.

This future payment will be the fourth one for parents since 2018, as the previous two were part of the Support for Learners, which was launched at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was about $868 million allocated in the budget for parents with special needs children receiving $200 per child and $250 for those without.

Fred Hahn, President of CUPE released a statement with demands for more investments in schools. He notes, “Meanwhile, this throne speech announced $225 million that would go to parents who are supposed to now find private tutors to help their kids catch up. Ontarians deserve better than a recycled pre-election budget.”

In addition to CUPE, ETFO released a statement titled, “Ford government misses opportunity to make much-needed investments in public education,” on Tuesday, August 9^th, 2022. ETFO is concerned that there are no new investments in public education and the government is bent on pursuing privatization.

Karen Brown, President of ETFO states, “By dismissing educators’ input and reintroducing the same budget they presented in the spring, the Ford government has missed a clear opportunity to provide students and educators with the school-based supports and resources they need to ensure a just post-pandemic recovery. The school

year won’t be an easy one for educators. They will be relied upon to address pandemic learning gaps without the support they need to do so. Making up for lost time and providing students with more one-to-one support required more funding at the school and board levels.”

The press release reiterates that ETFO is concerned about a projected spending shortfall of $12.3 billion over the next nine years in the education budget according to the Financial Accountability Office. President Brown continues, “Since Premier Ford took office, his government has repeatedly underfunded public education, health care and other social services in the province. They are directly responsible for the current, avoidable crisis we face in these sectors. His legacy of funding cuts and chaos in the education sector cannot be dismissed and so our Federations work to demand what students and educators deserve continues.”