As thousands of educators rallied at Queen’s Park last Thursday, the message to Premier Doug Ford’s government couldn’t have been clearer: Ontario’s education system needs more than just promises—it needs funding.
The demonstration, organized by four major teachers’ unions, drew crowds that spilled across the legislature grounds. Teachers came armed with personal stories of classroom struggles that paint a stark picture of Ontario’s education reality.
“I’ve got 32 students in my Grade 5 class this year, including six with individual education plans and two who are learning English,” said Melissa Tremblay, a Toronto elementary teacher who attended the rally. “We’re expected to perform miracles with fewer resources every year.”
The protest comes after months of growing tension between the provincial government and education workers. Union leaders point to a provincial budget they say fails to keep pace with inflation or address critical shortfalls in special education, mental health supports, and infrastructure repairs.
According to Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office, per-student funding has effectively decreased when adjusted for inflation, despite government claims of record investments. The watchdog’s latest education spending report indicates a $6.9 billion maintenance backlog across Ontario schools, with that figure projected to grow to $16.8 billion by 2027.
Karen Brown, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, didn’t mince words when addressing the crowd. “We’re seeing firsthand what happens when governments treat education as an expense rather than an investment,” Brown said. “Our students deserve better than crumbling buildings and overwhelmed classrooms.”
Education Minister Jill Dunlop defended the government’s position, citing a $3.4 billion increase in education funding since 2018. “Ontario students are benefiting from the highest education investment in provincial history,” Dunlop said in a statement released during the rally. “We remain committed to helping students catch up from pandemic disruptions.”
But many parents in attendance questioned those claims. Scarborough parent council member Amina Hassan said her children’s school has postponed repairs for years. “The roof leaks in three classrooms every time it rains,” Hassan explained. “They put buckets out and move desks around. How is this a record investment?”
The rally highlights growing public concern about classroom conditions across the province. A recent Angus Reid poll found 64% of Ontario parents worry about increasing class sizes, while 71% believe special education resources are inadequate.
For special education teacher Devon Williams, these statistics represent daily challenges. “I work with students who need consistent, specialized attention,” Williams said. “But my caseload has grown by 30% in three years while support staff positions have been cut. We’re failing the kids who need us most.”
Unions are demanding the government boost education spending to address four key areas: reducing class sizes, expanding special education resources, increasing mental health supports, and accelerating school repairs.
The province’s relationship with education workers has been rocky since 2019, when contentious contract negotiations led to rotating strikes. The situation worsened in 2022 when the government briefly imposed a contract on education workers through the controversial Bill 28, which used the notwithstanding clause to override workers’ charter rights.
While that legislation was eventually repealed after public backlash, many at Thursday’s rally said trust hasn’t been rebuilt. “How can we believe this government values education when they’ve repeatedly tried to cut corners and silence our concerns?” asked high school teacher Raj Patel.
The timing of the protest is strategic, coming just as budget planning for the next school year ramps up. School boards must submit their funding proposals to the ministry by month’s end, with final provincial allocations typically announced in April.
Smaller communities face particular challenges. Northern Ontario teacher Marie Lapointe traveled six hours to attend the rally. “Rural schools are being squeezed the hardest,” Lapointe said. “We’ve lost our music program, our full-time librarian, and now we’re looking at combined grades for nearly every classroom. The funding formula simply doesn’t work for small communities.”
Statistics Canada data shows Ontario currently spends approximately $12,500 per pupil annually, below the national average of $13,800 and significantly less than provinces like Quebec ($15,200) and Alberta ($14,100).
Progressive Conservative MPP Lorne Coe, parliamentary assistant to the education minister, suggested teachers should focus their energy elsewhere. “Instead of organizing protests, we’d welcome education partners to join our efforts to improve math and literacy outcomes,” Coe said.
This comment drew sharp criticism from Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation president Karen Littlewood. “Teachers are already working overtime to support students,” Littlewood responded. “What we need is a government that provides the tools to do that effectively.”
As the afternoon wrapped up, rally organizers promised escalating actions if the government doesn’t address their concerns. While no strike action is currently planned, union leaders noted all options remain on the table.
For now, both sides appear locked in a familiar standoff that leaves parents wondering what the upcoming school year will bring. As the crowd dispersed, veteran teacher Michael O’Connor captured the mood: “I’ve been teaching for 26 years and have seen governments of all stripes. But I’ve never seen classrooms stretched this thin while politicians claim everything’s fine. Something has to give.”
