Should the government pay for everything? A response to Bob (and every teacher like them)

As Vice President of the largest teachers’ union in Canada, I have the privilege of speaking with educators every day. I visit their classrooms, walk through their schools, and hear first-hand about their struggles and frustrations. But I also hear something else—skepticism.

We don’t all think the same way. We don’t all vote the same way. And I want to acknowledge that.

Recently, a fellow teacher, Bob, shared their concerns with me. Bob sees the same problems in our schools that we all do—growing class sizes, crumbling buildings, students with special needs not getting the support they deserve. But Bob also has questions.

“How far does this government funding go?” they asked me.

“Should the government fund everything 100% for everyone? I think we all want a little bit more money in our pockets, and most of us are tired of funding absolutely everything.”

I hear Bob. And I know that many people feel the same way. They see rising taxes, government inefficiencies, and wonder—where does it end?

 

The Problem Isn’t That We Spend Too Much—It’s That We Spend on the Wrong Things

Here’s what I told Bob.

The issue isn’t that we’re asking for endless government spending. The issue is what this government is choosing to prioritize.

Doug Ford’s government has the money—it just refuses to spend it where it’s needed most. While schools are falling apart and emergency rooms are closing, his government is:

• Wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on an unnecessary election to solidify his power.
• Giving away billions in tax breaks to profitable corporations while underfunding public services.
• Financing a luxury spa and privatizing healthcare, forcing more Ontarians to pay out-of-pocket.

So when people like Bob ask, “How far should government funding go?”—my answer is simple: it should go where people need it most.

 

We All Pay Either Way—The Question Is Who Benefits

Teachers like Bob want to keep more money in their pockets—I get that. But here’s the reality: we all pay, one way or another.

• When the government cuts school funding, we pay out of pocket for classroom supplies.
• When healthcare is privatized, we pay with our wallets for services that used to be free.
• When transit is underfunded, we pay with our time, stuck in congestion or unreliable service.

The money doesn’t disappear—it just gets shifted away from public services and into the hands of those who already have the most. Galen Weston’s companies’ value climbed from  $7.9B to $12.5B in the middle of the pandemic, while Doug Ford handed out tax breaks to the rich. The rest of us? We got more cuts, more fees, and a cost-of-living crisis.

 

This Election Isn’t About Politics—It’s About Priorities

Bob and I may not see eye to eye on everything. But I know we both agree that our students deserve better than this.

Doug Ford is betting that people like Bob will stay home. That teachers, frustrated and skeptical, won’t bother to vote. That we’ll feel so powerless that we let him walk away with more unchecked power.

But we do have power. And we do have choices.

This election, there are vulnerable PC seats that can be flipped and progressive seats that must be defended. The path to holding Ford to a minority—or electing a government that actually invests in public services—depends on turnout.

 

So What Can We Do?

1️⃣ Check if you’re in a key riding. Some races are winnable—let’s focus where our votes count most.

2️⃣ Talk to your fellow teachers, families, and neighbours. Apathy is Ford’s greatest weapon—let’s break through it.

3️⃣ Vote. Show up. Hold this government accountable.

Bob, and every teacher like them, I hear you. We may not agree on everything, but this much is clear: Doug Ford’s government is failing our students, our profession, and our future.

This isn’t just about politics—it’s about priorities. And if we don’t fight for them, Ford will keep taking them away.

Let’s take back our power—because our students and our profession depend on it.

 

 

Nigel Barriffe

Vice-President 

Elementary Teachers of Toronto