Ontario Liberals launch whistleblowing website for the community

BY PAUL JUNOR

As over 2 million public school students from 72 boards across in Ontario returned to schools there is still widespread concern.

The Ontario Liberal Party has publicly expressed its disapproval with Ontario’s school reopening plan. On its website (Ontario liberal.ca) it states,

“Doug Ford’s fascination has led to confusion, chaos and pain. Until the federal government stepped in, he ignored the call for smaller class sizes, from parents, educators, school boards and Ontario’s top health experts. He ignored the Students in Schools Action Plan that Ontario Liberals presented.”

Steven Del Duca, leader of the Ontario liberals wrote that their back-to-school plan is more comprehensive than the PC-government’s. He notes,

“Ford’s priorities are beers, bars and booze. It’s time to deliver a better, stronger and safer public education for our kids. That’s why my plan is focused on students, their families and everyone who works in public education.”

The lack of response by the Ontario government has prompted the Liberals to launch a whistleblowing website. The province announced that cases of COVID-19 have been steadily rising since June and this has prompted concerns as schools fully opened in September. The Liberal’s whistleblowing website will be an, “Online platform for students, parents and educators to point out issues inside schools and classrooms.” It is specifically targeted to education workers who have direct access to Ontario’s public education system.

The website states, “Students, parents and everyone who works on the front lines in education are full of confusion and anxiety because Doug Ford dropped the ball on investing in a safe reopening of schools. We can do something about it. We can document what is really happening: good and bad. With your help, we can highlight what’s working and what’s not, and where this school reopening needs more resources and support.”

The website is meant to provide a forum to show what is going on within schools across Ontario. It asks some important questions such as:

1. How is school re-opening going for you?
   How are you feeling?
   What are you seeing?
   What is happening on the ground?

Anyone who goes to the website is asked to provide their name, email and postal code. Anyone can share a story, video or a picture. Consent has to be granted for the information to be shared as well to receive news from the Liberal organization. Those who submit their information have the option of remaining anonymous, but not if they submit a video. It is important to know that once the Ontario Liberal party has someone’s contact information they are liable to receive solicitation for funding and support.

It is important to be politically astute. There is much that the Liberals can gain politically as they seek to highlight the inadequacies, weaknesses and short-sightedness of the PC-government botched reopening plans.

As positive cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in schools and boards across the province, many are alarmed, anxious and worried. Only time will tell what Premier Dough Ford will do.

The unions are waiting on a ruling from the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. This may provide some clarity and direction to the boards as they look ahead to the rest of the school year.