SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Ontario Assembly

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
August 30, 2022 09:00AM
  • Aug/30/22 11:20:00 a.m.

I do want to thank the member from Thornhill for this question. I think many parents of this province have perhaps never been more excited for these kids to get back to class, as are the children of this province. It’s been two difficult years. I think the number one thing we can do as a Parliament is to ensure the kids get to school in September and they stay in school without disruption right to June. That requires all of us to work together to ensure the kids have a plan in place to catch up, to get back to basics on the fundamentals of learning, reading, writing and math.

That’s why, Speaker, we’ve unveiled a plan that puts a greater emphasis—that restores the full learning experience: the clubs and sports, the extracurriculars, music and arts, the elements that create well-rounded leaders in this province.

We’ve also unveiled a nation-leading tutoring expansion plan, $175 million—the largest in this country—designed to help kids have the support they need, and a mental health investment building on the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions’ response. We have a 420% net increase, all this designed to ensure kids get back to a normal and stable, more enjoyable—

We deserve that. Our parents and our children deserve that, Speaker. It’s why, when we look at September, we’re really restoring the same experience they had in June. We’ll continue to provide rapid tests. We’ll continue to have 100,000 HEPA filters in schools, the largest ventilation improvement in the nation. We’re also ensuring that screening takes place, enhanced cleaning of our schools and buses. And likewise, we have another $300 million provided by the Premier specifically to hire literally over 2,000 additional custodians and EAs and educators to make a difference in our schools.

Mr. Speaker, we’re excited for September. We’re going to stay focused on keeping kids in school right to June.

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