The Ontario PC government has recently adopted a more moderate tone than the one struck in its first year at Queens Park, going so far as to back down on some of its more controversial funding cuts. The Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, released on November 6, allows us…
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In an earlier blog, we examined the board-by-board impact of Minister Lecce’s bargaining table offer to raise high school class sizes from 22 to 25. While this marks a smaller jump than the currently approved policy, it is still an increase, regardless of the Minister’s insistence that this is an…
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On October 24, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce held a press conference to update the public on ongoing contract talks with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. The Minister repeatedly stated that his government is offering to lower high school class sizes from 28 to 25 students per teacher. He…
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For centuries, the political right has opportunistically blamed immigrants for everything from economic slowdowns to lousy weather. The ferocity of these baseless attacks in the 20th century produced tragic results. Yet we are letting it happen again—in the United States, Brazil, Australia, different parts of Europe, and here in Canada. We…
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L’année passée, les changements au financement de l’éducation en Ontario se sont apparentés à un spectacle de tours de passe-passe. Des annonces contradictoires du gouvernement, l’emploi de termes brumeux tels que « protection contre l’attrition » et des transferts d’argent entre les différentes enveloppes budgétaires ont généré une confusion générale sur ce…
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Over the past year, following changes to education funding in Ontario has felt like watching a cups and ball magic trick. Contradictory government announcements, the usage of obtuse terms such as “attrition protection,” and the moving of money between funding envelopes have created a general sense of confusion as to…
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The Ontario government is cutting two-thirds of the funding for the Ontario Seniors’ Transit Tax Credit program. Whereas previously $9.7 million was allocated for the program, now there is $3.5 million. The spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation says, “no negative impacts to seniors are anticipated.” That sounds odd….
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The Ontario PC government has announced the first cues about its plans for social assistance reform. Given that the previous PC government axed social assistance rates by 21.6%, there’s been widespread fear that rate cuts from the Ford government were on the horizon. But last week’s announcement included no…
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Provinces across Canada are either moving towards a $15 minimum wage or keeping minimum wages low while enhancing tax benefits for low-income families. On Tuesday, the Ontario government confirmed that it is switching from the first to the second approach: it is cancelling a scheduled increase to $15, freezing the…
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During an announcement last week, Labour Minister Laurie Scott confirmed plans to freeze the minimum wage at $14. This measure would prevent more than 1 million Ontarians from getting the legislated $1/hour raise next January. The minister provided two pieces of “evidence” as justification. First, she said business owners have…
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