NDP calls for classroom air quality tests, public reporting

TORONTO — The Ontario NDP is calling on the Ford government to test the air quality in each Ontario classroom and to post the results online for parents and school staff to see.

"Parents, students, teachers and education workers need and deserve an assurance that their classroom is safe," said NDP Education critic Marit Stiles. "Let’s take the guesswork out. The NDP is calling on Doug Ford to test the air quality of each classroom before schools reopen and to post those results online. If a classroom isn’t ventilated well enough, we shouldn’t be putting kids in it.”

New York City announced it will do regular inspections of all classrooms, plus supply school staff with devices to test air quality in between inspections. The reports will be posted online. The Ford government's schools ventilation announcement did not include any air quality testing or public reporting of the results for each classroom, and there are no minimum standards in Ontario’s school re-opening plan.

Doug Ford is also cutting $800 million from Ontario schools this year. His school reopening plan also does not include reduced class sizes, or mental health supports for students, or paid sick days and family care days for staff and parents.

"The Ontario NDP will keep fighting for a Safe September,” Stiles said. “Our kids are struggling — academically and emotionally. We need to do so much more to keep them safe and prevent disruptions this school year.”