Three provincial election candidates took the stage Monday night at the Rope Factory in Brantford to debate the future of public education in Ontario.
Karleigh Csordas of the Green Party, Ron Fox of the Liberal Party, and Harvey Bischof of the NDP participated in the event, moderated by former Liberal MPP Dave Levac. Progressive Conservative candidate Will Bouma was invited but did not attend.
With an audience of over 80 people, the debate focused on critical issues including class sizes, funding, student mental health, concerns over privatization, school safety, healthcare, and challenges faced by special needs students, particularly those with autism.
Harvey Bischof, the NDP candidate, emphasized that chronic underfunding has left Ontario’s education system struggling.
“The failure to keep up with enrollment growth and inflation means students are going without supports they need. This results in overcrowded classrooms and an inability to tailor education to students’ specific needs,” Bischof said.
He cited the Conference Board of Canada, stating that every dollar invested in education yields a $1.30 return to the economy, while funding cuts have the opposite effect.
“Education is the great democratizer. It gives kids a chance to succeed, and if we do not support it properly, we are failing them.”
Liberal candidate Ron Fox described the state of education as a crisis, directly blaming Premier Doug Ford’s government.
“Education in Ontario is completely underfunded by choice, not necessity. Doug Ford has decided to underfund our education system, leading to larger class sizes, unsupported students, and burnt-out teachers. We need to make the proper investments to ensure Ontario’s children receive the education they deserve,” Fox said.
He identified funding as the most pressing issue and reaffirmed the Liberal Party’s commitment to reversing Conservative funding cuts, reducing class sizes, and increasing support for teachers and students.
Karleigh Csordas, the Green Party candidate, highlighted the lack of safety in classrooms as a major concern.
“Teachers, educational assistants, and students are not feeling safe. Classroom evacuations are increasing, EAs are experiencing abuse, and decision-makers in education are not listening,” Csordas said.
She criticized PC candidate Will Bouma for not attending, stating that his absence resonated strongly with the audience. “People want to be heard. We need elected representatives who show up and listen to their constituents.”
The Green Party candidate highlighted that 50,000 students in Ontario are currently waiting for autism therapies due to program cuts by the Ford government and that understaffing of educational assistants limits their ability to provide adequate support.
Carolyn Proulx-Wootton, President of the Grand Erie Elementary Teachers’ Federation, expressed disappointment at Bouma’s absence.
“We are very pleased to hear so many different perspectives on education that would see funding increases, address unmet student needs, and tackle violence in our classrooms. However, we are very disappointed that MPP Will Bouma was not here this evening to answer for what is happening in our schools and classrooms,” she said.
Dave Levac, former Liberal MPP, the moderator, emphasized the need for ongoing discussions on public education beyond election periods.
“This is the kind of debate that needs to take place almost weekly, rather than just during elections. Public education is the great equalizer. If you are a billionaire, you can send your child to public school and get an education. If you are poor or homeless, you can send your child to school. Public education is important and deserves more attention than it is receiving right now,” Levac said.
He also stressed the importance of prioritizing funding for education and public health over other expenditures.
Brantford-Brant, which includes the City of Brantford, Brant County, and parts of Six Nations and New Credit First Nations, has been a competitive riding in past elections.
Formerly held by Liberal MPP Dave Levac from 1999 to 2018, the seat was won by Progressive Conservative Will Bouma in 2018 and again in 2022.
With opposition leaders Bonnie Crombie (Liberal), Marit Stiles (NDP), and Mike Schreiner (Green) criticizing Ford’s early election call as unnecessary and wasteful, the February 27 election will determine whether the PCs maintain control or if the opposition can shift the balance in key battleground ridings like Brantford-Brant.
