Why has the Ontario Government cut $500 million in education spending?

BY PAUL JUNOR

The election of Doug Ford’s PC-led provincial government has seen a wave of cuts, reductions in programs, and cancellation of initiatives since it came to power. Undoubtedly, if COVID-19 did not occur there would have been even more drastic cuts to Ontario public education funding.

The release of the fall economic statement by Minister of Finance Peter Bethenfalvy on Thursday, November 4^th, 2021, was intended to give Ontarians an update prior to the 2022 budget. According to the government website: budget.ontario/2021, it “Lays out how the government will build the foundation for Ontario’s recovery and prosperity by getting shovels in the ground on critical infrastructure, attracting increased investment and restoring leadership in auto manufacturing and other industries. The plan also protects Ontario’s progress against COVID-19 pandemic.”

While the deficit is projected to decline from $21.5 billion in 2021-22 to $19.6 billion in 2023-24, Ontario’s debt will rise to over $400 billion. There is no reference to education, but the government mentioned that there would be investment in health care and highways. PressProgress reported on November 4^th, 2021, that while there was a projected spending of $31.3 billion on education in the March 2021-22 budget, the fall economic statement revealed that there was $30.8 billion allocated, which represents a cut of $500 million. In fact, there was a cut of $100 million from the $31.4 billion that the March budget indicated for the 2023-23 school year to $31.3 billion.

The Ministry of Education explained that when the March 2021 budget was released, they did not have all the details about COVID-19 funding so it was not included in the base amount. The fall economic statement was based on updated information.

There was widespread alarm from the opposition political parties, education unions and diverse education stakeholders. Andrea Horvath, NDP’s leader responded, “Mr Ford’s budget update has none of what Ontarians need now. There is nothing to make life more affordable, and there’s no help for hospitals. There are only cuts for our children’s schools.”

Steven Del Duca, leader of the Ontario Liberals Party released a statement which reads, “Students, parents and education workers deserve answers on why Doug Ford would cut funding for our schools at a time when investing in schools is critical. Ford is stealing from our children’s future to help buy a highway for his ultra-rich friends.”

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce cannot explain why funding is reduced. “When you consolidate all of the ministries and all of the investments we are making in public education, currently as the fall economic statement demonstrably presents to families, spending is projected to be up over $230 million this year.”

However, Karen Brown, President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), is not convinced. She notes at etfo.ca/news that the Financial Accountability Office discovered that there is a funding gap of $12.3 billion over the next nine years. She stated, “The fiscal update does not address leaving students and educators with even less support and resources than what is needed for years to come.”

She implores the government to provide funding to:

• Ensure all students have equal opportunity and access to high-quality education
• Support student and staff mental health needs
• Promote and ensure equity and inclusion in schools
• Provide quality, safe learning and working environments
• Support professional learning opportunities
• Commit to lower class sizes to improve safety and learning

Barb Dobrowoski, President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association told CP24, “With half a billion dollars missing from school funding, the Ford government’s economic statement makes clear once again that publicly funded education, safe schools, and student learning recovery are not these government priorities.”