QUEEN’S PARK – The Official Opposition critic for Education Marit Stiles (Davenport) issued the following statement in response to a review of the Ministry of Education estimates by Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office (FAO):
“At a time when students, education workers and their families need more support than ever, Doug Ford is cutting $800 million from the Ministry of Education budget and setting our public education system up for a decade of cuts.
The FAO report shows that Ford has not budgeted for known increases in costs, and that that’ll leave a $12.3-billion shortfall by the end of the decade.
Ford came into office targeting public education with deep cuts. Even a global pandemic – the impacts of which have left students and families reeling – wasn’t enough to stop his quest for cuts on the back of our kids. These Ford Conservatives just don’t believe in spending the money on public education.
The NDP believes now is the time to invest in our schools, to ensure that our kids have stability, support, and every opportunity possible to build their best future.”