Northern educators want bigger spotlight on education during the Ontario election

The director of education of a northern Ontario school board says she wants more discussion around education from political leaders as the provincial election looms.

"I'd like education to be a discussion for all the parties across Ontario and then, as a director, I would really appreciate a concrete plan about the teacher shortage," said Lesleigh Dye of the District School Board Ontario North East, which covers a region from Hearst to Temagami. 

Dye said during a panel discussion on CBC Radio's Morning North that Ontario's supply of teachers is aging and can't keep up with the growing number of students each year.

"Without increasing the teacher supply, Ontario is not going to be able to deliver on the mandate of back to basics," she said.

Chantal Rancourt, the Sudbury elementary president for the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, said during the panel discussion that while most people would say education is a priority to them, it has fallen to the wayside this election cycle.

"The unfortunate thing is that so many other portfolios are in dire need right now, that those are at the top of mind," Rancourt said.

"Some situations that impact life or death, health, the health-care crisis, economic crisis — those are absolutely going to naturally be at top of mind because they can mean such a difference."

Rancourt said she would like to see Ontario's main political parties commit to restoring the money that funding cuts made to education.

She said due to inflation, Ontario's public schools received $1,500 less per student in 2024 compared to 2018. 

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says that's equivalent to $3.2 billion in cuts for the 2024-2025 school year.

"I would love to see a government that commits to consultation with those who are truly impacted," Rancourt said.

"Teachers, education workers, students, board trustees — those are the people who are living the profession and could have some valuable input."

Dye said more investment is also needed to upgrade schools across the province, especially in northern Ontario.

"The north continues to not receive the funding in terms of capital projects," she said.

"And for [District School Board Ontario North East], the average age of our schools is about 65 years."

So far, only the NDP has addressed the issue of education infrastructure, with a promise to invest $830 million a year over 10 years to fix Ontario's "repair backlog" at schools.

Nanak Sidhu, a Grade 12 student at Chippewa Secondary School in North Bay and a student trustee at the Near North District School Board, said that as a first-time voter, education is important to him.

"It definitely is a huge factor in who young people might be voting for, just because we are currently in the system and we're able to see kind of those big struggles or gaps that we may have experienced in our past, or are currently still facing," he said during the panel discussion.

Sidhu said he's feeling overwhelmed preparing to vote in his first provincial election.

I'm trying to consider the best party for myself, that represents my beliefs as well," he said.

"I'm so incredibly nervous because I think we've seen the effects first hand of what really happens when a new party is elected and their thoughts on education."