Cracks have become chasms as Ford seeks to tighten his grip on power
We stand here today because the cracks in our system are no longer cracks—they’re chasms. In our schools, children with IEPs—our most vulnerable students—are being left behind. The cuts to Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and special education resources have hollowed out the very supports our children need. In this province, under Doug Ford’s leadership, our schools have lost $1,500 per student since 2018.That’s millions of dollars ripped from classrooms, from children, from futures.
Living in Toronto as a teacher earning $50,000 a year is an impossible task. When rents are averaging $3,000 a month, how can we sustain the educators who build the next generation? And it’s not just education—across Ontario, finding a family doctor feels like winning the lottery. ERs are closing, buildings are crumbling, and the systems that should protect us are collapsing.
Seven years of Doug Ford’s cuts and corruption have left us weaker, poorer, and more divided. Millions of dollars have been wasted on unnecessary elections—just so Ford can tighten his grip on power. He already has the majority, but it’s not enough for him. He’s calling this election as a cynical ploy to hold onto seats and extend his influence. All while we watch scandals like the Greenbelt sell-off and hidden phone records unfold before our very eyes.
We can’t let this continue. We know how fragile our democracy is, especially with an archaic first-past-the-post system that lets leaders control 100% of the power with just 40% of the vote. But we also know that power is in our hands if we organize, strategize, and vote.
This election is critical. Vulnerable PC seats in Scarborough North, South Etobicoke, and beyond are within reach. We must unite—across parties, across communities—to hold every progressive seat and flip every winnable riding. Doug Ford’s government is not inevitable. Change is possible. But it requires us to work together to reclaim our schools, rebuild our healthcare, and protect our future.
Let’s take back our power. Let’s build a province that works for everyone. The time is now.
Nigel Barriffe
Vice President, Elementary Teachers of Toronto, ETT