QUEEN’S PARK – The Liberal government continues to deny children with autism vital therapy while also cutting front line education workers who help children succeed, said MPP for Oshawa, Jennifer French, today in the legislature.
“Ontario families know that when $8 million is cut from special education funding across 25 school boards, and $1 billion in dedicated education funding goes unused over the past three years, their children are not a priority,” said French.
French cited several examples of the impacts of Liberal cuts across the province:
- The Toronto Catholic Board was forced to eliminate 56 education assistants following a Liberal cut to the board of over half a million dollars this year.
- The public board in Windsor continually faces nearly $5 million shortfall in special education funding
- Over $500,000 in cuts to the Upper Grand District School board means a reduction in the amount of time education assistants can spend with students
- The projected cumulative impact of special education cuts in Halton is $18.5 million over four years
“Government cuts to education leave school boards scrambling to fill the gaps in service,” said French. “Will the Minister of Education admit that forcing school boards to make decisions based on dollars and deficits is leaving students with exceptional needs behind?”