As the school year comes to a close, I’d like to reflect on a recurring issue my office has heard from parents, teachers and school board staff. That issue? Staffing and resource shortages in our schools.

Recently, my office heard from a mom whose child is struggling with a bullying issue at school. Jacob is a first-grader and is facing problems with another first grader. The mother has tried various avenues for resolution, but the crux of the issue appears to be lack of support in the classroom and a systemic EA shortage. Jacob is hurt, physically and emotionally. He is confused and afraid. I can’t speak for the other child in this case, but I would assume he also feels forgotten and in need of support.

I have also heard from representatives of our local school board, and they have identified the same issues with staffing shortages. The Thames Valley District School Board reported a $5.4-million increase in expenses for special education for the coming year, leaving them with a $3.4-million deficit for special education expenses alone, and there are other deficits across the board for operating costs.

The independent Financial Accountability Officer recently revealed that the government withheld $844 million earmarked for education at a time when school boards are facing significant funding deficits. The government needs to provide proper funding now and ensure appropriate staff levels at schools across the province so children like Jacob are not left behind.

Thank you to the member for Cambridge for the question. The expansion of the Village of Winston Park is a game-changing project for the Waterloo and Cambridge area. This state-of-the-art facility now provides 224 safe, modern long-term-care beds along with top-quality care and resources for residents.

Our government is also supporting another 12 projects in Waterloo region, including homes in Cambridge, Wilmot, Woolwich and Kitchener. These are beautiful homes. Together, these projects will provide over 2,400 new and upgraded long-term-care beds built to modern design standards. These investments will also bring many new jobs in the form of construction and health care staff.

This government is investing up to $5 billion for an additional 27,000 new long-term-care staff; that’s something that the Leader of the Opposition might want to put in her review.

That is why our government has provided an increase to the construction funding subsidy designed to encourage long-term-care homes across the province to begin building by August 31, this summer. This will and has enabled the continued development of new long-term-care projects. By building new beds, more seniors will be placed in modern, safe and comfortable new homes. This initiative and commitment by this government will result in shovels in the ground for 11,000 long-term-care beds by August 31. This is all part of our government’s historic $6.4-billion plan to develop over 58,000 new and upgraded long-term-care beds so we can meet the needs of our aging population.

My question is to the Premier. Special-education needs within the Greater Essex County District School Board are continuing to grow. An additional 200 students will need special-education supports for the next school year. Their deficit for 2023-24 special-education funding is projected at $10.2 million.

The board has flagged the increasing needs of their special-education programs with the Conservative government multiple times. In December last year, the GECDSB wrote to the Minister of Education calling on the province to address “significant underfunding,” and that the board expects to spend an additional $5.4 million on special education this year.

Speaker, why won’t the Premier adequately fund the special-education programs needed and support the students of Windsor-Essex?

In fact, Speaker, in Lambton-Kent, the province is only funding a quarter of the special-education needs. Toronto District School Board has a $67.6-million shortfall when it comes to special education. As I said, in the Greater Essex County District School Board, their shortfall is projected at $10.2 million. They’ve already said it’s going to cost them $5.4 million for special education this coming school year.

Speaker, students across Ontario with special-education needs, their parents and families deserve a government that is making the necessary investments to see all students thrive. Will the Premier stop shortchanging students with special-education needs and properly fund the special-education programming and supports that all students need to thrive?