NDP, parents sound the alarm as Conservatives move to cut $900M from education budget

QUEENS PARK — Ontario NDP MPP Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) and Shadow Education Minister Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West—Nepean) joined parents of children affected by the Ford government’s devastating cuts to education, calling on the Conservatives to reverse their budget’s planned $900 million cuts to education:

“With the $6.3 billion the Ford government has removed from education, we’re already seeing very drastic cuts,” said Bell. “Cuts to special education. Hundreds of teachers are being laid off. Staffing cuts to schools that need extra support. The very things that keep our kids safe.

“Come September, all of the problems we’re seeing in our schools will go from bad to worse. Every child should be given the opportunity to learn in a safe and welcoming public school. The Conservatives need to reverse these terrible budget cuts, and start reinvesting in our schools.

“The effects of these cuts are being felt in every part of our education system,” said Pasma. “Our kids are in overcrowded classes, without access to mental health or special education supports, in crumbling and unsafe schools.

“The Ford Conservatives are forcing school boards to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more than what they’re getting from the government to try to keep students with disabilities and special needs safe and supported. They’re failing our most vulnerable students. Doug Ford and Minister Calandra need to stop the cuts, stop the power grabs, and fund our schools.”