TORONTO, ON – The following is a statement from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) on Bill 98, The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act:

“Earlier today, the Minister of Education Stephen Lecce tabled new legislation intended to ‘refocus’ the education system and improve outcomes for students in Ontario. It is the second time in two days that ETFO has been caught off-guard by Ministry of Education announcements, demonstrating a clear lack of consideration and respect for education stakeholders. 

The draft legislation was developed without collaboration or input from ETFO. Today, we were asked to provide input by mid-May. But given their track record, we do not believe the request for feedback is genuine. The voices of ETFO’s 83,000 members, who have a vested interest in better student outcomes, deserve to be heard. 

Instead of working in partnership to improve our world-renowned education system, the Ford government is focused on creating a crisis in public education where none exists. In the government’s own materials, they state that ‘Ontario is among the top-performing education systems nationally and internationally.’ So why is an overhaul necessary? What is their agenda? A refocusing of the education system should not include government overreach. 

We encourage the public, including families, to pay attention to the changes that are being made without meaningful collaboration and consultation with education stakeholders, including trustees, administrators, educators, and education workers. We urge communities to stand up to this government’s chronic underfunding of public education because that is what will destroy Ontario’s high-quality public education system.”

ETFO represents approximately 83,000 members, including public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, education support personnel, and professional support personnel. Visit BuildingBetterSchools.ca.