TORONTO — Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to reports that many major school ventilation upgrades won’t be ready by September:
“It’s completely unacceptable that a year and a half into the pandemic, the Premier has still not delivered on improved ventilation in classrooms.
We know clean air quality is crucial to preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in schools.
Yet as the Toronto Star reports, 18 school boards said ventilation upgrades would not be fully complete by September.
Why did the Premier wait until August for a school plan that in the end was nothing more than half measures?
Why has the Premier not prioritized the health and safety of our children?
The Premier’s delays on making schools safer are putting students at severe risk. The fourth wave is here and growing. And children under 12 are still not eligible for vaccines.
Many parents are scared of sending their children back to unsafe classrooms. And educators and school staff deserve a safe place to work.
Enough with the lip service and delays. I’m calling on the Premier and Minister of Education to get all hands on deck to help all schools in Ontario make the retrofits needed to ensure the safety of all students.
It’s time for this government to get its act together and finally make safe schools and the health and well-being of kids a priority. ”