Dear Ontario Parents:
Across Ontario our children are preparing to go back to school.
But this year is different. The safety of our kids is top of mind, and parents and students alike are anxious and looking for answers.
As a parent myself – I know what you’re going through.
Because of the government’s lack of leadership, my two girls are going back to classrooms that are the same size they were last year, before this pandemic changed everything.
It didn’t have to be this way.
Last month I launched the Ontario Liberal Students in Schools Action Plan, because moms and dads across Ontario needed clarity on how students and education workers would be going back to school safely.
Most importantly, they need smaller class sizes – something that our plan would deliver.
Unfortunately, Doug Ford has squandered the entire summer and dropped the ball to plan for a safe school return.
But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do about it.
I launched a new platform, called KeepOurSchoolsSafe.ca, for parents, teachers, and educators to share their stories – so that Doug Ford is forced to hear your voices.
Stories about what’s working locally, and what’s not.
Stories about the safety failures and confusion from a lack of funding, planning and leadership at Queen’s Park.
Stories about how teachers, caretakers and support staff have stepped up to help make the transition back to school better because Doug Ford has been missing.
And stories about how families have had to adjust their lives to make sure their kids can continue to get the best possible education available.
But I also hope this platform can be a place where we can come together and learn from one another, and get through this as a community.
In this crucial time, Ontarians are looking for leadership, and we aren’t getting that from Doug Ford.
That’s why I am asking you to share your stories through keepourschoolssafe.ca, so that we can show this government how they’re letting our kids down, and so that we can keep pushing them to do better.
As a parent, and as a politician, I will continue to work as hard as I can every day to lift your voices and make sure that this government listens!
Thank you and stay safe,
Steven Del Duca
Leader, Ontario Liberal Party