A summary of the day's activities of Wednesday, August 26, follows.
Federal Government Relief Measures
- Prime Minister Trudeau announced $2 billion in federal funding to the provinces and territories, and $112 million to First Nations for the safe reopening of schools.
Statement of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
At a news conference in North York, Ont., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an investment of up of $2 billion in school safety for the coming year. Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen, Deputy Government House Leader Kirsty Duncan, and Judy Sgro, Liberal MP for the riding of Humber River-Black Creek, Ontario joined the Prime Minister.
"Children must be safe in the classroom, that's non negotiable," said the Prime Minister.
The $2 billion funding is incremental to the Government of Canada's $19 billion Safe Restart Agreement with the provinces and territories. It will flow through the Safe Return to Class Fund and will be shared among provinces and territories based on their respective student enrolment numbers.
The Prime Minister said the funding is flexible to respond to the needs of the provinces and territories to help make schools safe for students and staff throughout the school year. The press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office specifies the fund "will help provinces and territories by supporting adapted learning spaces, improved air ventilation, increased hand sanitation and hygiene, and purchases of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies."
The Prime Minister's statement partially addressed the concerns of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh who, during his press briefing of earlier this morning, expressed hope that funding would be tied to the requirement to cap class school sizes.
In addition, the Prime Minister announced an additional $112 million in funding for First Nations to support community measures to ensure a safe return to school on reserves. The federal government will continue to work with First Nation partners to help protect the health and safety of students and staff this school year.
Many journalists challenged the Prime Minister on the timing of the funding announcement– within weeks or days in the case of Québec from school reopening. The Prime Minister said he has heard from so many parents and Liberal MP's on "how reopening is going to go".
The Prime Minister added that provinces are confident they are doing what is necessary and the federal government wanted to give provinces even more resources to help make schools safe, help parents in their ability to get back to work and help in the economic recovery.
The Prime Minister repeatedly stated the federal government has no intention of interfering in provincial jurisdictions. The funding is in line with the federal government's commitment to be there for Canadians during the pandemic.
Federal Government Briefing
Federal cabinet ministers and public health officials did not hold a press briefing on COVID-19 today.
Statement of Ontario Premier Doug Ford
At a news conference at Queen's Park, Ontario Premier Doug Ford provided an update on his government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on its plan for the reopening of schools. Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, Ontario's chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams and Ontario's chief coroner and lead on COVID-19 testing Dr. Dirk Huyer joined the Premier.
During the Prime Minister's press briefing, the Ontario government issued a press release confirming that the federal funding announcement provides $381 million to Ontario, on top of the nearly $900 million provided by the province to support its provincial back-to-school plan. The $381 was broken down and allocated to various initiatives, including $200 million for "reopening plan implementation."
The $318 million is the first installment of a total of $763 million for Ontario. Pending federal approvals in December, the Ministry of Education will announce the second half of the payment later in the year for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
Premier Ford and Minister Lecce have faced criticism from school boards, education unions, educators and parents in recent weeks for their back-to-school plan; particularly regarding the lack of funding to lower class sizes and not providing sufficient health and safety measures.
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