Ontario families paying the price for liberal government’s chronic underfunding of education: NDP Education Critic

QUEEN’S PARK—Today, NDP Education Critic Lisa Gretzky demanded that the Premier reverse across the board cuts to education, and stop forcing students and families to pay the price.

“She [the Premier] promised not to cut education and to rebuild relationships with education workers,” stated Gretzky. “And yet, yesterday the Minister of Education literally boasted about the fact that her government didn’t need to keep its commitment to invest 250 million in education last year, and claimed that no cuts were made to special education.”

Last month’s budget clearly detailed a $248 million in-year cut to education funding. Today, it was announced that an additional 50 Educational Assistant and Early Childhood Educator positions are on the chopping block at Bluewater District School Board, which services the Bruce/Grey region.

“With 900,000 students paying the price across Ontario, Liberal cuts and broken promises are throwing our schools into chaos, said Gretzky. “Will the Premier finally admit that it’s time to reverse her short-sighted cuts to education and keep class sizes manageable?”

The Premier deflected all questions to the Minister of Education, who continues to find the education portfolio perplexing.