The children are not alright…but there is hope when we work together.
As summer break ends and families across the province prepare for back-to-school, I can’t help but feel deeply disappointed — and angry — at how this government is treating Ontario’s children.
You’ve heard me say it before. From overcrowded, overheated classrooms to five-year waitlists for autism support, to the heartbreaking reality that one child dies every three days while under Ontario’s protection, the Ford government’s neglect of our most vulnerable young people is impossible to ignore.
This is a government that finds $2.2 billion for a luxury spa deal with questionable oversight but refuses to make the urgent investments that could end devastating wait times in emergency rooms — wait times that cost a 16-year-old their life this year.
Right here in our community, we saw the effects of climate change collide with government inaction. Record-breaking temperatures left classrooms and daycares sweltering. Some children fainted. After I raised concerns with the Minister, I’m glad to report that one school in our riding now has their air conditioning working again — but far too many children are still being left behind. (Sign my petition here.)
And tomorrow, I will stand on the lawn of Queen’s Park at the Policing-Free-Schools Teach-In and Rally, to oppose Bill 33 — a dangerous proposal to bring police back into schools. The evidence is clear: this will not make children safer. In fact, it disproportionately harms racialized students and students with disabilities, creating a culture of fear instead of one of learning and belonging. (Join me at the rally!)
The Ford government is also threatening to silence the voices of families and students even further by eliminating school boards and the democratically elected trustees who represent them. I’ve already written to the Minister to remind him how vital these local voices are to ensuring schools meet the needs of every child. (Add your name and tell the Minister you agree.)
Perhaps the most egregious failure of all is in the child welfare system. Earlier this year, I spoke in the legislature about the children dying in Ontario’s care system. Despite spending as much as $1 million per year per child, the system is collapsing. Children are being housed in motels and office boardrooms because there aren’t enough appropriate placements. Families ready to adopt are waiting for months — sometimes years — caught in a web of bureaucratic delays including the most recent bungling of police sector checks.
This is not good enough. Our children deserve better — and there is a better way. I am working closely with child welfare experts and advocates to build solutions that put children’s safety, dignity, and well-being first. I’m also working in the community to ensure every child has what they need to be successful. (Join me this weekend for our back to school fair! Poster below.)
As this school year begins, know that I will keep fighting — for safer, healthier classrooms, for accessible healthcare and mental health supports, and for policies that put children first. Because the true measure of a society is how we treat our most vulnerable. When children thrive, we all thrive.
We’d love to see you there! We’re also still looking for volunteers – SIGN UP HERE!
