SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Ontario Assembly

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
September 1, 2022 09:00AM
  • Sep/1/22 10:40:00 a.m.

This question is for the Premier. Students are going back to school next week, to what we all hope is going to be a more normal school year. Experts have been clear that addressing the impacts on their learning and their well-being is going to require serious interventions. But instead of a serious plan backed up with real investment, this government is shifting millions away from schools and into direct, one-time payments, forcing parents to buy their own supports.

Since there have been no further details of this new voucher-style program, will the Premier commit instead to investing that $225 million into our schools where it can do the most good?

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  • Sep/1/22 10:50:00 a.m.

We obviously believe these kids need to get back on track after two years of difficulty. We have a plan to help these kids catch up, and it starts with these kids being in school and staying in school without interruption.

Every three years, families in this province have to deal with their kids staying at home because of strikes imposed by unions, supported by the members opposite.

I think what is most regrettable is that when we have a positive plan for these kids to get back on track—on the eve of back-to-school, when all of us should be coming together to support children and their return—we have a doom-and-gloom scenario again by the New Democrats, undermining the confidence of families at a time when we should be united to keep kids in class.

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan in place, with over $600 million more for this September, $175 million for tutoring—there are 49,000 kids last week alone who benefited from that support—and a mental health lift and a jobs-in-focus priority that’s going to help these kids stay in school and get back on track.

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