Teachers union launches attack ad against premier

OSSTF blasts Tories for ‘shortchanging’ education funding

It’s a COVID-19 cannonade with a provincial election a year away.

The union representing Ontario high school teachers is launching a multimillion dollar advertising blitz against Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives.

On Thursday, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation will begin airing U.S.-style attack ads blasting the Tories for “shortchanging” education funding.

This opening salvo of the June 2, 2022, vote comes as the government is pushing through legislation limiting how much third-party groups can spend on campaign advertising.

It also happens against the backdrop of schools being closed to in-class learning due to COVID-19.

“When COVID hit, Doug Ford’s government shortchanged our students, our teachers and our education workers,” intones a female narrator against the backdrop of haunting music and grim blackand-white photos of teachers and students wearing masks and empty classrooms.

“And now a new report reveals Doug Ford’s government didn’t pull its weight, leaving school boards and the federal government rushing to provide emergency education funding,” she continues.

That’s a reference to a study by the left-leaning Centre for Public Policy Alternatives that claimed the Tories are not pumping enough money into classrooms during a pandemic that has killed more than 7,500 Ontarians.

The think tank’s analysis concluded that much of the emergency funding for education came via the federal government.

“Education spending grows economic development, so Doug Ford isn’t just shortchanging education — he’s shortchanging Ontario’s recovery.”

The union president, Harvey Bischof, said the expiration of one-time COVID-19 spending in last month’s provincial budget is tantamount to a cut.

“The Ford government’s recent moves will cost the education system $800 million at a time when we are not out of this pandemic,” Bischof said in a statement.

“Education is Ontario’s competitive advantage. Eroding our education system will only put our economy and future at risk,” he said. “We need to ensure that the funding is in place to deal with the continuing threat from this pandemic and ensure our students are provided with the education that will ensure their future success.”

Bischof, whose members inked a new contract last year giving them one per cent annual raises, said “at the start of the pandemic, the Ontario government shortchanged teachers and education workers by not implementing sufficient safety measures in schools.”

“Now they are dithering in rolling out vaccinations to our members. This continued shortchanging is having an impact on staff and students,” he said.

Bischof said the ad campaign is connected to what he called “draconian legislation” that the Tories have pushed through.

Under Bill 254, political action committee (PAC) spending will be restricted 12 months before voting day in a move the government claimed is designed “to help protect Ontario’s elections from outside influence and interference.”

PACs such as the pro-Tory Ontario Proud and Working Families, a union coalition that helped the Liberals, would be allowed to spend up to $50,000 a month on advertising in the year leading up to an election.

But Bischof, whose union was a key funder of Working Families, said “the Ford government is steamrolling ahead to limit public discussion of important public issues.”

“Under this bill, severe restrictions hamper groups … from raising public policy issues, under threat of administrative penalties for violating these unfair rules.”

“Eroding our education system will only put our economy and future at risk.”

HARVEY BISCHOF

OSSTF PRESIDENT