Today’s announcement shows how out of touch this government is with the needs of Ontario’s students. Ontario’s independent Auditor General says more than $14 billion is currently needed in repairs to our schools, which means investing $1.4 billion per year for 10 years. Others put the repair backlog closer to $15 billion. This total doesn’t include future upkeep and renewal needs.
Today’s announcement falls short of what is needed and it is children and education workers who will pay the price, plus there is none of the long-term stability that school boards need.
The Liberal government created the chaos we currently see in the education system. It doesn’t have to be this way. New Democrats believe that all children deserve a high-quality education – they should be able to go to schools that are properly maintained, safe; good learning environments, where students can focus on learning.