TORONTO – Steven Del Duca, Leader of the Ontario Liberals, made the following statement:
Yesterday public health officials revealed that unsafe class sizes, caused by Doug Ford’s negligent, underfunded approach to reopening schools, are the primary driver for new COVID-19 cases in Ontario.
Ontario Liberals have the plan to shrink class sizes and slow the spread of COVID-19 but Doug Ford has refused to act. In July we released our fully-costed plan that included smaller class sizes, and had Ford acted then, we might have avoided the fierce second wave we’re facing now.
Ford’s approach to COVID-19 continues to be reactive, never planning ahead even when experts raise red flags. When Ontario Liberals push for proactive planning, like we did on education, Ford shuts us down.
Given yesterday’s new data supporting the need for safe class sizes, Doug Ford should immediately enact the Ontario Liberal Party’s Students in Schools Action Plan. Ford can cut the second wave short by finally taking action to reduce class sizes now and better support our front line education workers.
Ford has all the evidence he needs to support investing in safe class sizes, it’s time he finally takes action.
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