Election Readiness
The Upcoming Federal Election in Canada: Why It Matters for OSSTF Union Members
As prepared by and with thanks to Brock University Support Staff
The Upcoming Federal Election in Canada: Why It Matters for OSSTF Union Members
As prepared by and with thanks to Brock University Support Staff
Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario have called a provincial election for Thursday, February 27, 2025, a full 16 months prior to the legislated fixed election date set for June 2026.
OSSTF/FEESO is strongly encouraging members to pay close attention to this election and make sure you VOTE to fix public education before or on election day, February 27. The party who forms the next government will be across the table in the next round of bargaining for those Members covered by the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act (SBCBA). The new government will determine how education in Ontario will be funded for the next four years, from the early years through to post-secondary.
Your union has undertaken work to better engage and communicate to members about the provincial election at both the local and provincial levels. In some ridings, local leaders and member organizing teams have been canvassing and communicating with members using various means to keep you informed about the election and to encourage you to consider voting for candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting public education.
As we approach election day, Members can expect to receive communications by phone, text, and/or email from the Provincial Office about advance polls and to remind Members to vote on election day. Communications you receive will depend on whether we have updated contact information in our database.
We are also encouraging members to take a Me + 3 approach to voting – bring three other people with you to vote either at an advance poll or on election day.
You can find out more about the provincial election by going to Vote to Fix Public Education, our on our website, including OSSTF/FEESO resources, a comparison of party education platforms, and information on how to vote from Elections Ontario on our page.
For more information, you can email campaigns@osstf.ca.
Fewer students from abroad are applying to study in Waterloo and fewer are securing permits to attend
A report released Friday by the Council of Ontario Universities warned that changes are needed to domestic enrolment caps and proper funding for additional students.
The Ontario University and Colleges Coalition (OUCC), which represents over 435,000 faculty, staff, and students from every public postsecondary institution in Ontario, has been ringing the alarm on the post-secondary education sector’s underfunding crisis, which has been in the making for over a decade through consecutive austerity budgets, privatization, and burdening students and their families with financing the sector. The issue of underfunding is well documented by labour unions and associations in the sector, confirmed by multiple reports from the Auditor General of Ontario, and also echoed by the government’s own Blue-Ribbon panel.
MEDIA STATEMENT
For Immediate Release: Monday, February 26, 2024
https://wlusa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024FebOSSTFFEESOPostSecondaryFundingStatement-2.pdf
Every university position should have to be justified in terms of a university’s primary mandate: to educate students and produce knowledge.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/stacey-its-time-to-shrink-ontarios-university-administrations
In case you missed it the Liberal Federal Government has put into place a cap on the number of international student visas they will allow. They are also going to control what parts of the country visa students are allowed to study in.
For more information go to: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/international-student-visas-1.7092512
Karen Littlewood , president of OSSTF/FEESO has spoken out about this cap and the impact it will have on post-secondary institutions and students. In addition OSSTF/FEESO has put out a statement in response.
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