October 18th, 2021

Ford's education cuts hit YSW school especially hard during pandemic

YORK SOUTH—WESTON — NDP MPP Faisal Hassan asked Doug Ford during question period Monday how his government can justify cutting teachers and overfilling classrooms during a pandemic, citing a local school in his riding that was forced to shut classrooms and displace teachers.

"My office has heard that St. Bernard School in my community has been forced to shut classrooms and displace teachers due to the Ford government's cuts, and that it has been unable to accept new students," Hassan said. "This means parents of young children in the newly built townhouses down the street from St. Bernard will have to transport their little ones elsewhere for school.

"Ford's cuts to education and refusal to reduce overstuffed classrooms were harmful to students' learning before COVID-19, and are certainly not appropriate now, not to mention dangerous to the health and safety of children, teachers and families, as smaller classes are critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

"How, in the middle of a pandemic, when our children need small class sizes and sufficient teachers more than ever, can Doug Ford continue cutting from education?"