On July 22, 2019, Ontario’s Ministry of Education released news of a “Major Investment that will Renew Ontario Schools and Strengthen Student Learning“. Fix Our Schools is thrilled to hear Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s comment that, “We are investing in our students and their futures by building new schools and renovating existing schools because I believe better schools mean better learning environments for the next generation.” Fix Our Schools is also happy to hear that “this government is taking decisive action to ensure students have safe and modern learning environments that enable their success in the classroom, in life, and in the labour market” added Lecce.
However, we are confused about why it has taken the Ministry of Education over a year to simply resume the annual process of approving new school builds and additions in this province. Prior to the election of the Doug Ford government in June 2018, Ontario school boards were approached each summer by the Province to submit their top 10 school-based capital priorities for funding consideration. The Ministry of Education would then review these submissions and announce successful projects annually.
For the past 13 months – this annual process has been on hold. So, while Fix Our Schools is relieved to see this process finally being resumed, we are also very concerned about the fact that, in essence, Ontario students, teachers and education workers have lost over a year where no new school builds were approved.
Fix Our Schools is also very concerned about the Quick Facts section of this July 22, 2019 provincial announcement referencing an investment of $13-billion over 10 years for building new schools and helping repair and renew existing schools.
You see, provincial funding for only repairing and renewing schools currently sits at $1.4-billion/year so using some quick math – this $13-billion over 10 years – even if this $13-billion is only for school repairs and renewal – would be an annual cut of $100-million/year to the $1.4-billion in provincial funding for school repairs and renewal today. However, if this $13-billion investment over 10 years is meant to fund both school repairs and renewal and new school buildings in this province, then this $13-billion investment over 10 years actually represents a massive cut to provincial funding for school infrastructure in this province.