Hundreds rally in Toronto calling for more funding for education

Hundreds of teachers, education workers, students and supporters rallied at Toronto’s Queen’s Park on Saturday, calling on Ontario to increase funding for public education. Demonstrations also took place in London, Ottawa, Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

The rally comes as Ontario education workers head into contract talks without an agreement and unions prepare strike votes. Protesters said provincial funding cuts and changes to the public school system have left schools short of resources, and called for smaller classes, more help for students with special education needs and better working conditions.

Funding and class sizes at issue

Protesters said the province has underfunded public education by $6.5 billion since 2018. They pointed to a recent report from Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office on the Ministry of Education’s 2026 spending plan, which found per-student funding at its lowest level in 10 years.

The provincial government announced in September that it would provide $30.6 billion in core education funding. That figure covers core funding for the public education system; protesters argue it does not address the funding gap they say has developed.

Joe Tigani, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, said in a statement Saturday: “Ontario’s public education system is at a breaking point.”

Contract talks remain stalled

The previous contract for Ontario teachers and education workers expired at the end of August. Negotiations have stalled while the Ontario Labour Relations Board considers a dispute over which issues should be negotiated centrally and which should be left to school boards and local unions.

Central bargaining typically covers issues such as salary and benefits, while local bargaining addresses matters specific to a school board. All of Ontario’s major education unions are scheduled to hold strike votes in November. The source does not specify the dates or results of those votes.

The education minister’s office said the board process had “delayed the continuation of bargaining.” Press secretary Emma Testani said the province would be ready to negotiate after the process concludes. She also said strike threats could cause “unnecessary panic for parents” and said the government’s focus was reaching a deal that keeps students in class.

This report draws on information from CBC.