December 31, 2021
VIA EMAIL: doug.fordco@pc.ola.org
The Honorable Doug Ford
Premier of Ontario
Room 281
Legislative Building, Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Dear Premier Ford,
On December 16, to protect our schools, communities, and families, we wrote you requesting the implementation of a number of measures to stem the surge of the highly infectious Omicron variant. We acknowledged that the measures suggested would require considerable political will, but urged their consideration so that in-person learning, and the considerable benefits it brings to students, could continue in January.
Yesterday, Ontario’s families learned once again that your government still refuses to implement the preventative measures called for by education and public health experts. Given the importance of in-person learning, we share the Ontario Science Table’s view that school closings “should be part of a pandemic control strategy in only the most catastrophic circumstances.”
Ontario’s students cannot afford a repeat of last January, with more school closures and learning disruptions.
We urge you to act immediately and implement the following measures to address COVID-19 in schools, so that students can safely enjoy the benefits of in-person learning:
• reduce class sizes to promote physical distancing;
• increase effective vaccination rates in our school communities by publicly promoting the importance of vaccination for students;
• prioritize access to booster shots for all education workers;
• add COVID-19 to the list of designated diseases in Ontario Regulation 261/13 Designated Diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA);
• improve ventilation and install HEPA filters in ALL classrooms and public spaces in schools and campuses, with publicly available air quality metrics and standards;
• ensure the non-fit-tested N95 mask orders by school boards are filled and delivered immediately;
• provide the best possible masks to all students, with improved guidelines to ensure masking compliance;
• implement stricter screening and isolation requirements;
• implement a more robust testing and contact tracing regime, which includes providing all education staff with regular access to Rapid Antigen Tests, and prioritizing PCR test accessibility for both education workers and Ontario’s students should they register a positive result on their rapid tests; and
• reconsider the short-sighted decision to decrease the isolation period from 10 to five days, as doing so unnecessarily risks reintroducing the virus into school settings.
In addition to these school-specific measures, to reduce the risk of sick Ontarians from infecting their colleagues at work, we ask that you improve the temporary paid sick leave program, as the three days of limited benefits this program provides will be insufficient to prevent workplace outbreaks. We also ask that you ensure all workplaces, especially larger ones, have easy access to testing capacity to ensure employees are tested if they have any symptoms.
As we have previously communicated, we believe current circumstances require additional community-based infection prevention and control measures, as recommended by the Ontario Science Table, including more effective reduced-capacity rules, enforcement of vaccine passports, and masking in all indoor spaces.
These measures are now more necessary than ever for safe schools and sustainable in-class learning. As we have stated many times throughout this pandemic, we urge you to contact us to discuss how we can assist in the implementation of these measures.
Yours truly,
Karen Brown, President
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
Barb Dobrowolski, President
Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
Karen Littlewood, President
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
Mike Morgan, Chair
Ontario Council of Educational Workers
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Anne Vinet-Roy, présidente
Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens
Laura Walton, President
Ontario School Board Council of Unions – CUPE
cc :
VIA EMAIL: christine.elliott@pc.ola.org
The Honorable Christine Elliott
Minister of Health
5th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
VIA EMAIL: stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org
The Honorable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
5th Floor, 438 University Ave.
Toronto, ON M5G 2K8
January 3, 2022—Despite the fact that today’s announced restrictions and measures are necessary to help address the Omicron variant’s impact on our health care system, Premier Doug Ford and his government have, once again, failed to recognize all that is needed to keep schools safe. We have known about the virulence of this variant for over a month, and yet, even last week the Premier failed to acknowledge its impact and implement a meaningful plan for schools.
Premier Doug Ford told us today that we need to “brace for impact” but has failed to fortify the public school system to keep communities safe. Today’s announcement does not go nearly far enough. Without increasing access to COVID-19 testing, providing full access to enhanced PPE, guaranteeing priority access to booster vaccines for educators, ensuring HEPA filters are in place in schools, and reducing class sizes to allow for physical distancing, the Premier cannot say he is doing everything he can to protect students, staff, and communities.
Ford acknowledges, “that online learning isn’t ideal.” We are entering the third calendar year of the pandemic, and yet urgent and direct action to implement the required safety protocols to get students back to in-person learning has not happened. With the extended pause of in-person learning, the government has additional time to finally step up and protect students, staff, and communities.
Special education teachers and other education workers, including some educational assistants, custodians and other support staff, are returning this Wednesday to school buildings without assurances that proper safety measures will be in place on time. When students return to in-person learning in the coming weeks, they are still returning to large classes with limited ability to physically distance, varying access to PPE, inconsistent ventilation, and a lack of pro-active rapid testing and reporting.
The government has failed Ontario’s schools by:
• Cancelling contact tracing;
• Reducing access to PCR testing;
• Ending transparent reporting of case counts in schools;
• Excluding schools from occupancy caps similar to those for households and businesses;
• Failing to reduce class sizes to ensure REAL cohorting and physical distancing can be established and maintained;
• Failing to have N95 masks ready for deployment;
• Leaving education workers and teachers without priority access to vaccinations and boosters.
If the Ford government had implemented these protocols months ago, they would not be in this position. Instead, Doug Ford is lurching from crisis to crisis, and continuing to see the erosion of the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to handle this pandemic. We need the Premier to initiate lasting, effective actions to get us through these challenges. Our hope is that this government will provide more information and details to the public in the coming days. Today’s announcement, while necessary, insufficiently addresses what is required to make schools safe.
OSSTF/FEESO will continue to advocate for the safety of students, communities and its members.
Protecting and Enhancing Public Education Protéger et faire avancer l’éducation publique
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Fédération des enseignantes-enseignants
des écoles secondaires de l’Ontario
49 Mobile Drive, Toronto, Ontario M4A 1H5
TEL 416.751.8300
TEL 1.800.267.7867
FAX 416.751.3394
www.osstf.on.ca
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Kitchener, ON – From November 29 to December 3, 2021, ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union staff
members were proud to once again take part in the “Spirit of Giving” campaign by donating over $3,000
to various community groups in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.
Through this annual charitable initiative, ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union staff members were
each provided $100 to donate to a community group, organization or event that is important to them and
helps make a difference in the community.
This year, ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union staff members supported over 20 organizations in our
community, including:
• Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington
• Calvary Pentecostal
• Cambridge Memorial Hospital
Foundation
• Canadian National Institute for the Blind
(CNIB)
• Cystic Fibrosis Canada – Kitchener-
Waterloo District Chapter
• Family and Children Foundation
• Food Bank of Waterloo Region
• Food 4 Kids Waterloo Region
• Haven House
• House of Friendship
• Kids Ability
• KW Counselling Services Inc.
• KW Sertoma Club
• McMaster Children’s Hospital
• Ontario Christian Gleaners
• The Salvation Army
• The Working Centre
• Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention
Council
To view photos and stories from the “Spirit of Giving” campaign, please visit ECU – A Division of WFCU
Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To learn more about ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union and its community initiatives, please visit
www.myECU.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Beth Ann Prince
Manager, Member Engagement & Community Investment
WFCU Credit Union
519-974-3100
bprince@wfcu.ca
About ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union:
ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union is a member-operated financial co-operative. We provide full
financial services, including a comprehensive Wealth Management program, to members who share the
principles of democratic ownership. Our primary focus is our members – not profits. That’s why we strive
to provide lower or no service charges, higher investment rates, competitive loan rates, and innovative
financial products and services. True to our commitment to our members and community, on October 1,
2020, Education Credit Union (ECU) joined its operations with WFCU Credit Union, becoming ECU – A
Division of WFCU Credit Union, expanding service offerings to anyone living or working in the Kitchener,
Waterloo and Cambridge region, and providing members with increased access to a wider range of
market-leading banking options to further assist them with their financial goals. For more information, visit
myECU.ca.
About WFCU Credit Union:
Based in Windsor and Essex County, WFCU Credit Union has been recognized as a leading, progressive
financial institution since 1940. Proudly serving Ontario residents, community organizations, small
businesses, commercial entities and public institutions for over 80 years, WFCU Credit Union is the sixth
largest credit union in Ontario, and twentieth largest credit union in Canada. WFCU Credit Union operates
nine retail locations in Windsor-Essex, as well as three retail locations in the Waterloo Region through ECU
– A Division of WFCU Credit Union, and one digital entity, Omnia Direct. Through their various service
channels, including online and mobile banking, telephone banking and ATM services, WFCU Credit Union
and its divisions have become the financial institutions of choice for 58,163 members across Ontario,
including 53,767 personal members in 25,249 households, 3,053 businesses and 1,343 organizations.
Currently, WFCU Credit Union has $6.83 billion in Managed Assets and Member Service Totals of $9.3
billion. WFCU Credit Union membership is open to anyone who lives and/or works in Ontario. For more
information, please visit wfcu.ca.
December 2021
Anti-Racism and Equity Training through Account #2018:
Account 2018 was established as a result of a Strategic Action Plan initiative approved at the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly (AMPA) 2021. This account has a three-year mandate ending in June 2024. Its purpose is to provide funding to support Anti-Racism and Equity Training for Districts and Bargaining Units.
OSSTF/FEESO is committed to dismantling racism, oppression, and systemic barriers within the Federation. We are engaged in several activities as per the Action Plan to Support Equity and Anti-Oppression. A few of the completed and ongoing actions are found below.
Via OSSTF Update (Originally posted November 11, 2021)
Completed actions:
Actions in progress:
Ongoing commitments:
Via OSSTF Update (Originally posted September 15, 2021).
Paula Duhatschek · CBC News · Posted: Dec 03, 2021 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 10 hours ago
Kitchener Centre NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo introduced a bill Thursday that aims to fight racism at all levels of the education system, from kindergarten to post-secondary.
The Racial Equity in the Education System Act amends a number of existing acts that apply to the education system, from the Education Act to the Ontario College of Teachers Act, to include the definitions of racism and anti-racism.
“Those definitions, as menial as they might seem, are actually major steps toward taking seriously the realities of racism within our education system,” said Lindo at a Zoom press conference.
She said defining these terms in legislation allows everyone to get on the same page about what racism is, and what must be done to change it.
“When you define it, then it is real.”
Lindo’s bill would also:
Lindo said a recent incident at Alpine Public School in Kitchener points to the need for “systemic solutions” around racism and inequality.
A teacher has now been criminally charged after allegedly disciplining two children by taping them with masking tape.
The father of one of the children told CBC K-W he was concerned race was a factor in the incident.
Lindo said while that particular situation attracted a lot of attention, it likely speaks to a broader problem.
“The reality is that something like that doesn’t happen unless a number of smaller instances of racial violence and lack of care for racialized students were allowed to go either noticed and and met with silence or fully unnoticed because these things are norm,” she said.
Speaking at the same press conference, Teneile Warren, equity and inclusion officer for the Waterloo Region District School Board, said they support the bill.
“We need legislative support in order to advance the work that is already taking place in our school systems,” said Warren.
“We cannot continue to place the responsibility solely at the feet of teachers.”
In response to questions from CBC K-W, a spokesperson for Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province has already given an expedited directive to school boards to collect race-based data, and required all school boards to undergo an “equity board improvement plan.”
“We know there is more to do,” said Caitlin Clark, who said the province has also moved to de-stream education in Grade 9.
“That is why we introduced mandatory anti-racism training for all education staff, introduced curriculum changes to counter discrimination and promote inclusivity, and it is why we strengthened sanctions against staff for racist actions or behaviour.”
Still, Lindo said she’s concerned that without defining terms like “racism” in legislation, different boards will end up using different language and produce data that can’t be properly compared.
“Instead of doing that, why don’t we take a step back, put a very clear vision into the universe of what racial equity in education in particular looks like, and then ensure that the language and the tools are available for everybody so that they can all be working together,” she said.
As publish at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-centre-mpp-introduces-bill-to-fight-racism-in-schools-1.6271617?fbclid=IwAR0UmsUDK_obCSZzYfmo72mOHSeQO2NO4Aq-Qz7PCurXG-NuE9MaDZBTWD4
OSSTF/FEESO created the Women’s Advocate program in 2020 to provide support to members of OSSTF/FEESO who were either experiencing domestic violence at home or who knew someone experiencing domestic violence.
Women’s Advocates have been jointly trained by OSSTF/FEESO and the University of Western Ontario’s Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women.
As a Women’s Advocate, we can provide you with much needed confidential support to help you navigate the complicated search to find help when you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence. Whether you need help to find housing resources, shelters or supportive counsellors for your or your children, Advocates, like me, are here to help.
We can also provide you with assistance when dealing with your union representatives and employer. We are not a counsellors, but we can provide you with information on how to find a counsellor or a domestic violence worker in your community. We can also help you understand what types of leaves or assistance are available from your employer and your union.
To contact your local Women’s Advocate, Jennifer Williams, please email 4women@wlusa.ca. All communication will be held in confidence except when a duty to report is required.
Image courtesy of: https://www.pngitem.com/middle/iRmwimR_purple-awareness-ribbon-png-photos-domestic-violence-awareness/
From decreasing your commute to putting your car in storage for the season, there are plenty of reasons why you might not be driving your vehicle as often as you used to. But don’t let it sit collecting dust — follow these steps to maintain your car and keep it ready to hit the road!
Learn more at https://otipinsurance.com/article128.
That’s part of their message ahead Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, which is the first week of November
Ontario’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from November 1-7, and Waterloo Fire Rescue reminds you to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) in your home by getting all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually.
“In Ontario, more than 65% of injuries and deaths from CO occur in the home,” says Fire Chief Richard Hepditch. “We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO. Get all fuel-burning appliances inspected by a registered contractor.” Visit www.cosafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.
Waterloo Fire Rescue also reminds you to install CO alarms in your home if you have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. Fuel-burning appliances can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbeques, stoves and vehicles.
“You must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage as per the Ontario Fire Code,” adds Hepditch. “For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of the home according to manufacturer’s instructions.”
If you live in a condo or apartment building with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the service room. In condo or apartment buildings that have a garage, CO alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the garage.
What is CO?
Prevent CO in your home:
Know the symptoms of CO:
Know the sound of your CO alarm:
For more CO safety tips, please visit www.cosafety.ca .For additional information about fire and life safety, please visit the Waterloo Fire Rescue website at waterloo.ca/fire or our Twitter page @Waterloo_Fire.
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