Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario condemns Ontario Government’s continued underfunding of public education

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Ontario government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement, unveiled on October 30^th, 2024, has sparked widespread criticism from various education stakeholders, including the Ontario Liberals, NDP, Ontario Greens, and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). These groups have voiced their opposition to the government’s fiscal priorities and its failure to address critical issues facing Ontarians, particularly in the education sector.

Ontario Liberals and Other Stakeholders Respond

The Ontario Liberal Party (OLP) expressed disappointment that the Fall Economic Statement failed to tackle urgent issues affecting the province. In a press release, the OLP outlined several key priorities they believe should have been addressed, including:

• Real investments to maintain emergency room services
• Expanding access to family doctors for 2.5 million Ontarians
• Providing long-term financial relief for residents
• Addressing the affordability crisis in housing

Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, criticized Premier Doug Ford’s government for prioritizing “billion-dollar giveaways” to wealthy insiders instead of investing in critical public services like healthcare. “Doug Ford is more focused on giving billions to the rich than addressing the real issues affecting Ontarians. People are dying on waitlists while this government squanders money on alcohol sales, foreign spas, and Greenbelt scandals,” said Crombie. “It’s time for Ontarians’ tax dollars to work for the people, not Doug’s wealthy friends.”

Similarly, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), representing 160,000 university students across the province, also expressed its disapproval. The group, which advocates for the interests of full-time and part-time undergraduate students, emphasized the need for stable, public investment in post-secondary education. Michele Wodchis-Johnson, President of the University Students’ Council at Western University, argued that “Public education should be publicly funded and financially stable enough to provide quality education to future generations. Investing in post-secondary education is an investment in Ontario’s economic future.”

ETFO’s Strong Condemnation

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which represents over 83,000 educators, also sharply criticized the Ontario government’s failure to address the ongoing crisis in public education. In a media release issued on October 30, 2024, ETFO President Karen Brown condemned the government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement, calling it a missed opportunity to reverse the damage caused by years of funding cuts to Ontario’s schools.

“There are no meaningful investments for public education in this statement. It reflects a deeply troubling trend,” said Brown. “Violence in schools is on the rise, class sizes continue to grow, and special education remains severely underfunded. Meanwhile, the Ford government focuses on expanding alcohol sales and funding vanity projects that benefit insiders. This is not fiscal responsibility—it’s gross mismanagement and a deliberate attack on our public education system.”

Brown pointed out that, in the 2024-2025 school year, funding for students will be, on average, $1,500 lower than it was in 2018. This translates to a staggering $3.2 billion in cuts for the current academic year alone. Notably, this figure mirrors the approximate amount that Ontarians will receive in rebate cheques from the government in 2025, a move widely seen as an attempt to sway voters ahead of the next election.

“Sending out $200 cheques to voters right before an election is an insult to Ontarians. It’s clear the Conservatives have run out of ideas,” President Brown continued. “It’s outrageous that they continue to cut funding for public schools while using Ontarians’ own tax dollars to try to buy their votes. The message is crystal clear: this government doesn’t care about public education.”

ETFO’s Call for Accountability

The ETFO concluded its statement with a firm commitment to hold the Ford government accountable for its neglect of public education. “We will not stand by while this government abandons Ontario’s schools,” said President Karen Brown. “Students and educators deserve a fully funded, equitable, and inclusive public education system. Our future depends on a strong, well-resourced public education system, and we will not let this government dismantle it.”

ETFO also made it clear that they will continue to advocate for the restoration of education funding and push for policies that prioritize the needs of students and educators across the province.

For more details on the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, visit the Ontario government’s official website: Ontario’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement.