Education

Ontario’s education system is facing serious challenges, and it’s time for real change. From underfunded schools to mismanaged spending, students, teachers, and parents are being let down at every turn. The COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse, leaving many kids with developmental setbacks. Studies have shown that children are entering school with weaker motor skills and delayed language development, a direct result of prolonged lockdowns and lack of social interaction. Despite this, the provincial government has done little to help them catch up. Meanwhile, teachers and support staff remain underpaid, forced to strike just to demand basic fairness. Instead of addressing these issues, the government continues to waste money on ineffective policies and distractions.

The state of Ontario’s school infrastructure is another disgrace. Many classrooms lack air conditioning, leaving students sweltering in the summer heat. In one case, a young girl cried for hours because her school was so unbearably hot, yet little has been done to prevent similar situations from happening again. Special education is also in crisis, with thousands of children stuck on waitlists for autism support. These kids deserve the resources they need to succeed, but the system is failing them. On top of that, Ontario’s curriculum is becoming more politically driven, with questionable lessons such as the “dangers of communism” being taught in schools. Instead of providing balanced and accurate historical education, the government is pushing ideological narratives that have no place in classrooms.

At a time when Ontario’s schools desperately need funding for repairs, mental health services, and smaller class sizes, the government is choosing to spend millions on nonsense like vape detectors. This money should be going towards fixing crumbling schools and ensuring every child has access to quality education, not gimmicks that do little to solve real problems. 

Another glaring issue is the billions being funneled into the Catholic school system while public schools struggle to get by. Ontario is one of the last places in the world where the government still fully funds a separate Catholic school system, a practice that dates back to the 1800s and has long been abandoned by nearly every other jurisdiction. While diversity in education is important, it makes little sense in today’s society to continue dividing our school system along religious lines when the majority of Ontarians are not even Catholic. Maintaining two publicly funded school boards is a costly and outdated system that drains resources from students who need them most. It’s time to have a real conversation about whether this money is being distributed fairly across all students, or if it’s simply propping up an institution that no longer reflects modern Ontario.

Teachers are also being forced to spend more time disciplining disruptive students than actually teaching, thanks to policies that put individual cases above the needs of the classroom as a whole. Standardized testing remains a priority despite overwhelming evidence that it does little to improve student outcomes. Mental health services are practically non-existent in many schools, leaving kids without the support they desperately need. And while half of Ontario’s schools are in need of repairs, the government continues to throw money at flashy projects that don’t address the core problems.

The Bipartisan Education Reform Act is my bold plan to modernize Ontario’s education system and ensure that every child gets the quality education they deserve. This draft—just the first step—puts our money where it really counts by reducing class sizes, increasing mental health supports, and funding critical diversity and inclusion programs, all while investing in proper teacher training. Instead of wasting millions on ineffective measures like vape detectors and rigid cellphone bans that interrupt the flow of teaching, we’re redirecting those funds into proven, evidence-based initiatives that have a real, positive impact on student outcomes.

At its core, the Act is about delivering a balanced and accurate curriculum that reflects the complexities of our past and present. We’re updating lessons on topics like the dangers of communism and the Red Scare to provide a nuanced understanding of history, and we’re expanding education on significant social movements—from civil rights to feminism, LGBTQ rights, and workers' movements—that have shaped Canadian society. This ensures our students gain the critical thinking skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world, free from outdated and biased narratives. The Act also tackles a long-standing issue: the separation of church and state in education. By integrating publicly funded Catholic schools into our secular system—or giving families the choice to privatize them—we can ensure that public funds are used fairly and that our schools remain neutral, inclusive spaces for learning. We’re also calling for a thorough review of all educational spending to cut wasteful expenditures and ineffective policies, redirecting those dollars into areas that directly benefit our kids.

This proposal is just draft two, and it’s a work in progress. I’m committed to building an education system that prepares our children for the future and reflects our modern Canadian values, but I know it’s going to take collaboration. If you have any suggestions or concerns, please reach out. Your feedback is crucial as we refine and perfect this plan together.