Faced with a tough call, Ford flinches again

Faced with a tough decision, a strong leader acts. That’s why Premier Doug Ford has taken the bold step of sending a letter to every organization that might have an interest in reopening Ontario’s schools. The premier will accept no more dawdling on the school reopening. Responses to his letters were required by Friday at 5 p.m.

After the responses are received, Ford will mull them over, searching for the elusive consensus on school reopening that he claims is essential. What a charade. Ford must already know that the vast majority of those receiving his letter are calling for schools to reopen and have been for some time.

Most of the people Ford is consulting now are medical officers of health. They have all signed a letter asking for schools to reopen, although some have conditions. Dr. David Williams, the province’s chief medical officer of health and Ford’s usual go-to guru on all pandemic matters, says schools should reopen.

The Canadian Paediatric Society wants schools reopened. Last week, the pediatricians and 11 other pediatric and children’s groups sent Ford a letter saying, “The impact of school closures and the resulting social isolation on the health and well-being of children and youth has become impossible to ignore. Getting Ontario’s students back into the classroom, with appropriate safety measures in place, for the remainder of this school year and for summer learning must be a priority now.”

None of the major teaching unions oppose a return to in-person learning now, although all raise the usual workplace safety cautions. Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation president Harvey Bischof is taking a more rational position than Ford. In an interview, Bischof says he has no problem with schools reopening in areas with low COVID case numbers, and in other areas after some enhanced ventilation measures. He would still be cautious about reopening schools in Toronto and GTA hot spots, but Bischof points out that there is no requirement for consensus to reopen schools.

In fact, government pretty much never works on a basis of consensus, not even around the cabinet table. Ford is either genuinely unsure what to do or he’s looking for maximum political cover.

Ford seems to have forgotten how to balance the risks of COVID infection against the benefits of having schools open. He got another stark reminder earlier this week when an open letter signed by members of the Royal Society of Canada’s COVID-19 education think-tank urged him to open schools “without delay,” arguing that Ontario children are “on the cusp of a generational catastrophe.” The group argues that children are facing severe mental health and educational consequences because of the closed schools.

Having already received all of this advice, Ford is asking for it again. If the advice didn’t convince him before, will it make a difference this time?

In a Friday morning media event, Ford raised a few of the concerns that weigh on him. He’s particularly spooked by last week’s science table prediction that opening schools could increase COVID cases by six to 11 per cent. It’s pretty clear that’s his deal-breaker. Who would want more cases? And yet, that risk must be set against the harm done by keeping schools closed. Ford might also want to remember that a “case” doesn’t even necessarily mean someone has symptoms, much less that they will end up in hospital or die.

Then there is what the government claims is a low rate of immunization among education workers and teachers. The government says only 41 per cent of school workers are immunized, attributing the data to the provincial vaccine information system. OK, but people aren’t being asked about their occupations when they are being vaccinated, so how would the government know?

The teaching unions aren’t monitoring vaccination rates among members. One might have expected more effort given their constant complaining about workplace safety. The unions say they’d be surprised if their members’ vaccination rate is below the provincial average.

Finally, Ford is concerned about the new Indian variant of the virus. That could be a problem, but again, that possibility needs to be weighed against the certain damage caused by keeping schools closed.

What Ford should do, at a minimum, is immediately reopen schools in areas with low case numbers. He also needs to tell Ontario parents that schools will open as normal in September. No more wonky programs where students are supposed to spend hours every day on the same subject. No more weak online learning plans. Ford says everyone who wants a vaccine will be fully vaccinated by the end of summer. How much safer will it get?

Ford said Friday he’s not afraid to make tough decisions, but his inaction speaks far louder than his words.