This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario about stopping the cuts and investing in the schools, as students deserve.
“Whereas the ... government cut funding to our schools by $800 per student during the pandemic period...;
“Whereas these massive cuts have resulted in larger class sizes, reduced special education and mental health supports and resources for our students, and neglected and unsafe buildings;
“Whereas the” FAO “reported a $2.1-billion surplus in 2021-22, and surpluses growing to $8.5 billion in 2027-28, demonstrating there is more than enough money to fund a robust public education system;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
“—immediately reverse the cuts to our schools;
“—fix the inadequate education funding formula;
“—provide schools the funding” they need “to ensure” there are “supports necessary to address the impacts of the pandemic on our students;
“—make the needed” improvements and “investments to provide smaller class sizes” to our children.
I fully support this petition. I want to thank the Elementary Teachers of Toronto for collecting these signatures and sharing our concerns to stop the cuts and invest in our schools.
I have a petition from my constituents to double ODSP rates.
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas the government systemically underfunds and fails to adequately support peoples with disabilities; and
“Whereas the government cancelled a planned 3% increase in ODSP benefits; and
“Whereas persons with disabilities have borne a disproportionate burden of the pandemic; and
“Whereas the cost of shelter” and food has gone up; and
“Whereas persons with disabilities on ODSP have been struggling to survive...;
“Whereas the government must place people with disabilities at the centre of the province’s pandemic recovery plans, addressing a long-standing gap in Ontario’s social safety net while honouring its commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
“To instruct the Ontario government to immediately commit to doubling ODSP rates and take action to ensure Ontario provides a livable income supplement for people with disabilities.”
I wholeheartedly support this petition. I will sign it and ask page Stefan to bring it to the table.
I would like to read the petition on behalf of Anne Wildman.
“Extend Access to Post-Adoption Birth Information....
“Whereas current legislation does not provide access to post-adoption birth information ... to next of kin if an adult adopted person or a natural/birth parent is deceased;
“Whereas this barrier to accessing post-adoption birth information separates immediate family members and prohibits the children of deceased adopted people from gaining knowledge of their identity and possible Indigenous heritage;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to extend access to post-adoption birth information ... to next of kin, and/or extended next of kin, if an adult adopted person or a natural/birth parent is deceased.”
I fully support this petition. I’ll sign it and pass it to page Morgan to deliver to the table.
I have a petition titled “Vulnerable Persons Alert.
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas there is a gap in our current emergency alert system that needs to be addressed;
“Whereas a vulnerable persons alert would help ensure the safety of our loved ones in a situation where time is critical;
“Whereas several municipal councils, including, Brighton, Midland, Bonfield township, Cobourg and Mississauga and several others, have passed resolutions calling for a new emergency alert to protect our loved ones;
“Whereas over 90,000 people have signed an online petition calling for a ‘Draven Alert’ and over 6,000 people have signed an online petition calling for ‘Love’s Law’, for vulnerable people who go missing;
“Whereas this new alert would be an additional tool in the tool box for police forces to use to locate missing, vulnerable people locally and regionally;
“Whereas this bill is a common-sense proposal and non-partisan in nature, to help missing vulnerable persons find their way safely home;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
“Support and pass Bill 74, Missing Persons Amendment Act, 2023.”
I wholeheartedly support this petition. I’m going to affix my name to it and give it to page bring it to page Keya to bring to the Clerk.