What to know
- A new poll finds 62 per cent of Ontarians disapprove of Premier Doug Ford’s handling of education, while just 28 per cent approve.
- Forty-four per cent of respondents would blame the provincial government if schools close, compared to 27 per cent who would blame teachers’ unions.
- Torontonians who spoke with Now Toronto raised concerns about teacher support, education funding, accessibility and privatization.
- Fifty-nine per cent of respondents believe publicly funded education has gotten worse over the past few years.
A majority of Ontarians aren’t happy with how Premier Doug Ford is handling education, with a new poll finding that 62 per cent disapprove of his work on the file.
The latest poll from Liaison Strategies, released Nov. 3, found that just 28 per cent approve of Ford’s handling of education, while 10 per cent were unsure.
The findings come as negotiations between the provincial government and education unions continue, with the possibility of school disruptions remaining a concern for families.
Read More
Despite 51 per cent of respondents opposing a province-wide teachers’ strike, more Ontarians say they would hold the provincial government responsible if schools close.
According to the poll, 44 per cent would blame the Ford government, compared to 27 per cent who would blame the unions. Another 22 per cent said both sides would be equally responsible.
What are Torontonians saying about Ford’s handling of education?
Now Toronto headed out onto the streets to ask residents how they feel about Ford’s handling of education.
One woman said she wasn’t impressed, pointing to friends who work in education.
“Just based on my friends that work in education, they’re completely stressed out, and they point to funding and lack of support and that type of thing,” she said.
Another woman raised concerns about education accessibility and what she sees as an attempt to privatize the system.
“Access to education and making sure it’s accessible to everyone is super important, and I don’t think he’s doing a good job at doing that.” she said.
A man who spoke with Now Toronto also said he would place himself among those who disapprove of Ford’s handling of education.
“Doug Ford’s not necessarily a politician that I align with,” he said, adding that he generally finds himself supporting people who bring attention to the premier’s actions in Ontario.
The survey also found that Ontarians are more concerned about classroom conditions than employee pay.
Twenty-nine per cent said hiring more staff to support students with special needs should be the top priority, followed by reducing class sizes at 26 per cent. Increasing employee pay ranked at 12 per cent.
The poll surveyed 1,000 Ontarians between Oct. 30 and 31, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
