Despite an increase in the base budget allocated to the Ministry of Francophone Affairs of Ontario, the Association of Franco-Ontarian Teachers (AEFO) deplores the absence of “significant investment in education” from the Ford government , which tabled its budget for 2024-2025 on Tuesday.
“Over the past year, the Ford government has boasted on numerous occasions of prioritizing education, and today it is releasing a budget without significant investment in education. Where are the real actions and concrete gestures? » declared the president of the AEFO, Anne Vinet-Roy.
“If the education system in Ontario continues to struggle, it is thanks to the great dedication of staff, and not thanks to the so-called investments that the government is falsely promoting,” she added in a statement. communicated. In a context of labor shortage, the AEFO expects “much more from this government”.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Queen’s Park tabled a budget forecasting a deficit of 9.8 billion for 2024-2025. In contrast to investments of tens of billions in infrastructure and public transportation, the Ford government announced a reduction of nearly $400 million in the budget of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for the next fiscal year.
As it announced last month, the province has also decided to extend its freeze on tuition fees “for at least three more years.” A measure however criticized in an expert report commissioned by the government and published last November.
“With more than a decade of declining provincial subsidies […] a 10% reduction in tuition fees and now a freeze [de ces] fees for eight years, as well as a federal cap on international students, Ontario universities are at a breaking point,” Council of Ontario Universities President Steve Orsini said in a statement.
The Ford government, however, announced $10 million in aid for small colleges and universities in rural and northern areas, which are “financially vulnerable.” However, it makes no mention of the University of Sudbury, to which the Progressive Conservatives refused to grant funding at the end of June 2023. The rector of the establishment, Serge Miville, was not available Wednesday for an interview.
Two new elementary schools and two new French-speaking secondary schools should also open in 2023-2024. The construction of four other French-speaking schools — including one bilingual — and three expansions are also planned in the longer term.
Increase in funds for Francophone Affairs
The Ministry of Francophone Affairs was provided with greater basic funding for 2024-2025, i.e. 8.6 million. This is an increase of 1.6 million compared to 2022-2023. Limited-term investments of 4.7 million should also be added, bringing the total to 13.3 million for the next year.
The provisional figures for 2023-2024 also amount to 8 million, while it was planned in the previous budget to allocate only 7.7 million.
The Ford government “is committed to improving access to French-language services throughout Ontario and strengthening the vitality of Franco-Ontarian communities,” we can read in the budget document. We also learn that Queen’s Park is “working with the federal government to renew the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority Language Services and will invest nearly $10 million over three years to expand the delivery of quality services in French “.
In addition, Ontario is investing $6.8 million over two years for Ontario entrepreneurs, notably granting new funding — the amount of which remains unknown — to the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario in order to “provide additional support to help Ontario’s French-speaking entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses through specialized advisory services, workshops and events […] in the language of their choice.
Two announcements welcomed by the president of the Assembly of the Francophonie of Ontario, Fabien Hébert. The Assembly is, however, “disappointed” with the absence of budgetary commitments for health services in French and calls on the Ontario government to integrate the linguistic variable on and in the health card. “We must facilitate access to primary care, mental health care and addiction treatment, home care, acute care as well as long-term care for French-speaking people,” wrote Mr. . Hébert.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.