To mark the start of Pride Month, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) expresses solidarity with the 2SLGBTQ+ community and reaffirms its commitment to creating learning and working environments where 2SLGBTQ+ members, students, families, and allies feel safe, respected, and fully supported. 

Amidst a social landscape where some politicians and voices in the media seek to normalize homophobia and transphobia, ETFO members from the 2SLGBTQ+ continue to support students and work in learning communities that may not always be safe for them. Pride and Solidarity represents our union’s continued commitment to advocating for members, students, and communities.

TORONTO, ON – The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is raising urgent concerns following the release of the Auditor General of Ontario’s Special Report on Special Education Needs, which confirms that the provincial government has chronically underfunded special education and neglected the needs of students with disabilities.

“This report is another damning indictment of a government that has abandoned its responsibility to Ontario’s most vulnerable learners,” says ETFO President David Mastin. “After more than a decade of chronic underfunding and policy decisions that have stripped supports out of classrooms, school boards simply cannot meet the needs of children with disabilities. The system isn’t just strained; it’s fundamentally ableist.”

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is celebrating Education Week, May 4 to 8, by recognizing the dedication and professionalism of Ontario’s public elementary educators who deliver high-quality learning experiences despite mounting pressures and challenges.

“ETFO members bring skill, dedication, and unwavering care to their students every day,” says ETFO President David Mastin. “Whether they are teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, or education and professional support personnel, their work is the heart of Ontario’s public education system. But that system cannot function on our members’ dedication alone. It requires real, sustained investment and a clear commitment by the Ford government to supporting the people who make public education work.”