ETFO Town Halls for Members in their First Five Years

If you are new to the union or in your first five years of ETFO membership, this is for you!

Bring all your questions about membership services, ETFO advocacy, government relations, or collective bargaining to discuss with ETFO President David Mastin for an interactive online discussion.

There are two dates to attend this one-hour town hall:
Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7:00 p.m. or Thursday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Register by Wednesday, Nov.19, to attend.

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Fund Our Schools

School boards like TDSB and TCDSB are now under supervision by the province. The takeover of our school boards cannot stand.

Visit fundourschools.ca to discover why this supervision is really a sham to divert attention away from the chronic underfunding of our schools.

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Ontario’s Education Unions United Against Bill 33

As the provincial legislature returns, l’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), Ontario School Board Council of Unions (CUPE-OSBCU), and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) have issued the following joint statement:

The Ford government introduced Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, earlier this year. It is a regressive piece of legislation that does nothing to support students and everything to consolidate power in the hands of the Minister of Education.  

Our schools are facing a crisis, but not the one this government is pretending to solve. Ontario’s public education system is buckling under the weight of underfunding. Class sizes are ballooning. Essential programs are being cut. Teachers and education workers are stretched to the breaking point. Student needs are going unmet, resulting in learning gaps and growing school violence. Put simply, there are not nearly enough trained professionals or services to properly support our students.  

Read more: Ontario’s Education Unions United Against Bill 33
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Let the Good Times Roll

Members enjoyed a great time at our OTIP Bowling Event Tuesday, October 7. Thanks to everyone who came out!

We hope you join us at our future events this year!

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Fall General Meeting

Join us for our Fall General Meeting to to find out what’s new in education, set our yearly budget, ask questions, meet new colleagues, and win some prizes!

Saturday, October 25
Delta Waterfront Hotel, SSM
8:30 breakfast, 9:00 business

Please RSVP by October 17.

We provide mileage for people who must travel to Sault Ste. Marie, and an accommodation subsidy for anyone coming from over 125km away. Please contact Sue (ac.lt1761857422oa@pv1761857422) for more information.

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Ontarians reject Ford government overreach: majority support elected trustees

A new province-wide poll commissioned by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) shows that twice as many Ontarians want to keep elected school board trustees (49 per cent) as want to eliminate elected trustees (24 per cent). Support for elected trustees climbs to 59 per cent among parents with school-aged children. These results indicate strong public support for local democratic control of school boards.

The Ford government’s proposed Bill 33 would allow the province to replace elected school board trustees with government-appointed supervisors whenever it determines it is in the “public interest”. The Minister of Education has further threatened to get rid of elected school board trustees entirely, prior to scheduled elections on October 26, 2026.

“There is widespread concern about the erosion of local representation,” warns ETFO President David Mastin. “Eliminating elected trustees is not just a bureaucratic shift; it’s a direct attack on democratic governance. It centralizes power, undermines equity, silences marginalized voices, harms students, and strips communities of their right to shape public education. This is a dismantling of democracy in real time. Let’s mobilize and defend our schools and our students.”

Read more: Ontarians reject Ford government overreach: majority support elected trustees
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ETFO celebrates World Teachers’ Day, calls on province to invest in public education

TORONTO, ON – On October 5, World Teachers’ Day, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) recognizes the expertise and extraordinary commitment of teachers in Ontario and around the world.

“Ontario’s teachers are at the heart of public education, bringing skill, compassion, and dedication to inspire learning and to help every student reach their potential,” says ETFO President David Mastin. “On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate their impact and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring they have the resources and supports they need to help every student learn, grow, and succeed.”

Read more: ETFO celebrates World Teachers’ Day, calls on province to invest in public education
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Tonight we Bowl!

Tuesday, October 7
7:00 p.m.
Northcrest Bowling Lanes, SSM

Please join us for a fun evening of BOWLING to help us celebrate you! Put your team together and show up in style. If it’s just you, that’s ok too, because we are happy to have everyone who can join us.

We will be playing two ends starting at 7pm. Bowling and shoe rental are complimentary, courtesy of your friends at OTIP and EFG. There will be prizes and special treats as well.

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Walk into Retirement with a Plan — OTIP Retirement Workshops

Are you staring to plan for retirement? It’s never to early to start making a plan! OTIP and Educators Financial Group has you covered.

These free workshops are open to members and spouses. As a courtesy, refreshments will be provided when possible.


Chapleau
October 6
The Hub
4:30 – 6:30

Sault Ste Marie
October 7
Quattro Hotel
4:30 – 6:30

Blind River
October 9
BR Memorial Comm. Centre
5:30 – 7:30
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ETFO responds to school board collapse rumour

TORONTO, ON – The following is a statement from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) President David Mastin responding to a rumour that the Ford government is considering replacing Ontario’s 72 school boards with four:

“Collapsing Ontario’s 72 school boards into four isn’t just a bad idea, it’s reckless, undemocratic, and an outright attack on public education. This move would silence parents, erase community voices, eliminate democratically elected trustees, and cut families off from decision-makers. Ford is manufacturing yet another crisis in education to tighten his grip on our schools.

It is not hyperbole to say that this unprecedented power grab would decimate public education. It would destabilize schools across the province and put student learning, safety, and well-being at risk. Premier Ford and Education Minister Calandra aren’t reforming education; they are intent on dismantling a world-class public education system that educators have built and defended for generations.

Read more: ETFO responds to school board collapse rumour
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