Horwath calls again for mandatory vaccinations for teachers, education workers as time runs out

HAMILTON — Less than three weeks before schools starts, Andrea Horwath, leader of the Official Opposition New Democrats, is calling on Doug Ford to make vaccines mandatory for teachers and education workers.

“The health and safety of our children — including their mental health — has to be our top priority,” said Horwath. “Vaccines are a critical part of making sure this school year is safe, and in-person, without outbreaks and infection scares. Vaccines must be mandatory for anyone working with our children.”

Horwath is also calling for the COVID-19 vaccine to be added to the existing list of student immunizations. With less than three weeks to go before most kids, teachers and education workers return to class, Ford hasn’t required vaccines for anyone in schools.

The Ontario NDP has been calling for a Safe September plan for school reopening that includes capped class sizes; more mental health, educational assistants and counselling supports for students; a minimum and enforced standard for ventilation; and paid sick days and family care days for everyone — all necessary to lower the risk of outbreaks and more disruption.

“Doug Ford was cutting education before the pandemic, and he’s already right back to cutting,” said Horwath. “Penny-pinching on the back-to-school safety plan is rolling the dice with our kids’ health and wellbeing, and that’s got to change, urgently.”

Ford is cutting $800 million from education this year. That’s according to Ford’s own budget and verified by Ontario’s independent Financial Accountability Officer.

Background

Horwath’s Safe September plan includes:

• Smaller class sizes
• Improved ventilation with standards
• Mental health supports
• Paid sick days and family care days for everyone
• Mandatory vaccines for teachers and education workers, and adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the existing vaccines list for students