#OntEd Daily Brief for Tuesday, December 19
FAO finds government underspent on education in 2023, and article examines challenges for Indigenous students studying away from home. A collection of the latest #OntEd news and updates.
Good evening,
Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office has released a new report analyzing the provincial government’s spending and financial standing in the first half of 2023. The report reveals that the Ford government spent $2 billion less than it planned to in the first two quarters of the fiscal year, most notably $129 million lower than planned in education and $127 million below its projected spending on post-secondary education.
The province did use money from the government’s contingency fund – which the NDP has said reduces transparency – to support the health and justice sectors.
Global News - Ford government leaning on contingency funds to pay for extra health, justice costs
CTV News - Ontario spent $2 billion less than planned in first half of this fiscal year, FAO says
Education Minister and OSSTF Discuss Bargaining Approaches
Minister Lecce and OSSTF president Karen Littlewood spoke with Global News reporter Colin D’Mello and discussed the binding arbitration bargaining process that the two sides engaged in to agree to a new deal. Both sides noted that this bargaining approach was a good fit for 2023 but is not a guaranteed path forward for future negotiations.
The report also notes that OSSTF was the only union to take this path as some other unions continue to negotiate, and ETFO recently agreed to a new deal after taking a strike vote earlier in the fall.
Global News (Video) - The future of bargaining for Ontario teachers
Challenges for Indigenous Students Studying Away from Home
An article from the Canadian Press explores accessibility to education for Indigenous students as many First Nations communities don’t have high schools and students must travel and live far from home to continue their studies.
This situation presents a challenge for many students as they navigate living away from their families and a lack of resources to support them, and the mental and physical challenge that this brings.
Global News/Canadian Press - Far from home, Indigenous students face challenges getting education but there’s hope
Take a look at some of the other articles on the #OntEd beat today:
CBC London - TVDSB creates work-study opportunity for adult learners finishing high school
CBC Nova Scotia - Effects of COVID-19 pandemic, affordability crisis showing up in child development data, experts say
Thanks for tuning in! We'll be back tomorrow with more on the latest #OntEd news and updates. Please don’t forget to share our newsletter on Twitter or Facebook so that more people can stay on top of everything #OntEd.
In the meantime, are you ready to take action and advocate for Ontario's students? Visit the Here For Students website today!