The Ford government is attempting to end speculation about its stance on full-day kindergarten in the province, a day after Canada's prime minister denounced possible cuts to Ontario's education system.
"There has been speculation around the issue of full-day kindergarten," Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson said in a statement issued on Friday. "Let me be clear, we are absolutely committed to full-day learning for four and five-year-olds across the province."
The clarification came less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood up at a town hall in Milton, Ontario and said he was "deeply concerned" about possible cuts Premier Doug Ford could make to full-day kindergarten. Trudeau urged Ontarians to send a message to the Ford government that they are against cuts to student opportunities and cuts to education budgets.
"We have been clear from the beginning that we are listening to parents and consulting with our education partners to modernize and improve Ontario's education system from kindergarten to Grade 12," Minister Thompson said in her statement on Friday. "We value the experience and perspectives of our education partners and through the consultation, we look forward to hearing their feedback."
Speculation had mounted this week over the provincial government's intentions for the education program after Ford refused to provide a guarantee that full-day kindergarten would continue beyond the next school year.
On Wednesday, Ontario NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles also expressed the opposition's concern about " the Ford Conservatives’ refusal to take full-day kindergarten off the chopping block."
“I’m getting calls from panicked parents after the Ford Conservatives revealed they've put full-day kindergarten on the chopping block," she said. "No parent should have to worry that their kids will miss out on the advantages of full-day kindergarten."
The provincial government consultations are being held in an effort to trim the Ontario deficit that the PCs have estimated at $14.5 billion.
