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.”

TORONTO, ON – 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/FEESO) issue the following statement ahead of this Wednesday’s Provincial Day of Action: 

“On April 29, more than 255,000 AEFO, ETFO, OECTA, CUPE-OSBCU, and OSSTF/FEESO members will participate in a Province-wide Day of Action. This coordinated effort represents a powerful show of unity among Ontario’s teachers and education workers at a time when publicly funded education continues to face significant challenges.

Ontario’s publicly funded education system is facing mounting pressures, and none of those pressures were eased in the most recent provincial budget. Chronic underfunding continues to shape daily realities in schools, where large class sizes, rising incidents of school violence, insufficient supports for students with special education needs, ongoing challenges in retaining and recruiting teachers and education workers, and aging, deteriorating buildings all converge to create significant strain. In the post-secondary sector, years of underfunding, combined with recent cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), are undermining access for students and putting the province’s future workforce at risk.

Teachers and education workers see these realities every day. They understand the impact on learning environments, and on student achievement and well-being. They also know that students and their families deserve a stable, well-resourced system that meets their needs and prepares them for the future.

On April 29, 255,000‑plus members across Ontario will come together to visually signal their support and demand for investments in publicly funded education. Across Ontario, union members will wear red and purple as part of the Red for Ed and Power of Purple movements. This collective action will demonstrate that teachers and education workers are united in calling for improved learning and working conditions in our schools and universities. Under the banner of ‘Stronger Together,’ the five unions are prepared for the next round of central bargaining and ready to demand more for students from a government that has neglected them since taking office in 2018.

Momentum is building. Our members are engaged, informed, and committed to defending and strengthening our publicly funded education system. That shared commitment is our greatest source of strength. Together, we will continue to advocate for the high-quality, fully funded system that every student in Ontario deserves. We invite families and other community allies to join us in calling for meaningful investment and a genuine commitment to student success and well-being.”

Martha Hradowy, OSSTF/FEESO President
René Jansen in de Wal, OECTA President
Gabrielle Lemieux, AEFO President
David Mastin, ETFO President
Joe Tigani, CUPE – OSBCU President