The Ontario government is disputing accusations that it’s making cuts to education funding.
Sam Oosterhoff, an assistant to Education Minister Stephen Lecce, says contrary to Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation claims, the province is actually investing more money.
“Doubled mental health support funding. Historic investments in special education funding.”
Oosterhoff suggests wage increases are at the heart of the on-going labour dispute.
He says the government’s pay hike offer of $750-million is reasonable, but the union won’t budge from its demand for $1.5-billion.
Regional OSSTF officials stated this week that wages were a small part of the dispute, but pointed to class sizes and e-learning as the main barriers between the two parties.
Oosterhoff notes the province has reduced the number of on-line credits needed to graduate and dropped the number of students from 28 to 25 per class.
