In May 2025, the Ford government introduced Bill 33 (Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025), giving the Minister of Education broad new powers to intervene in school boards beyond finances and mandate police in schools. This unnecessary overreach should concern us all, as it opens the door to a troubling vision of public education that includes privatization.
Trustees play a critical role in advocating for public schools and students in their communities. They help set the local vision and priorities for student achievement, well-being, and equity. They create policies that directly impact public schools, from ensuring safe and inclusive environments to supporting special education needs.
What’s worse, now the Minister of Education has proposed getting rid of elected school boards altogether.
Learn more about the role of trustees and the Ford government’s attack on school boards in ETFO’s new fact sheet, School Board Trustees: Your Community’s Voice in Public Education.
We must loudly and clearly say no to Bill 33! Send an email to your MPP and ask them to support local democracy.
