Dear Friends,

The last few weeks have been difficult for many across our province and in our community. The Ford Government’s latest announcements of deep cuts to education and the Ontario Autism Program have created a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty among families. As your MPP and as the Official Opposition Education Critic, I have been working very hard to bring the voice of families and children to Queen’s Park.

My colleagues and I have also been challenging the government's health care legislation, and the privatization agenda it represents. And we've been speaking up for college and university students worried about the cuts to OSAP grants and the attack on student organizations.

Meanwhile, my community office has been bustling with constituents seeking assistance and advice on provincial programs and services.

In this newsletter, I want to highlight a few of the things we have been working on, but for daily updates I encourage you to follow me on twitter: @maritstiles,  Facebook, or visit my website at www.maritstiles.ca. I also have a YouTube channel where you can watch clips of my statements, questions, and speeches in the House. As always, it is an honour to serve as your MPP and I welcome your thoughts, ideas and feedback at MStiles-CO@ndp.on.ca.

Marit

Education Cuts

On March 15, Education Minister Lisa Thompson announced sweeping changes to the education system, including increased class sizes beginning at Grade 4. In the secondary level that means a new average ratio of 28:1 that will see classes as large as 40 students. Students will also be required to take the equivalent of 440 hours of instruction online in a new, centralized, e-learning system. All told, the changes will rip at least 1 Billion dollars out of our public education and remove as many as 10,000 teachers and education workers from Ontario’s schools. 

I have been challenging the government every day in Queen’s Park (see my questions here) and have joined teachers, parents and students at demonstrations to say no to these cuts. This week could see one of the largest student walk-outs in history, and momentum is growing across the province. 
 

Here's how you can take action for public education:

West End Parents for Public Education Meeting

Wednesday, April 3, 6pm-8pm at Dovercourt Public School

(Facebook)

Rally for Public Education

Saturday, April 6, 12pm-2pm on the lawn of Queen's Park

Davenport Day of Action for Public Education

Saturday, April 13, 12pm, meet at Tim Horton's 1176 St. Clair West

RSVP here.

Teach the Reach: New bill aims to prevent cyclist injuries

Last week, I was proud to introduce the “Teach the Reach Act,” a new bill that, if passed, will go a long way toward preventing cyclists from being ‘doored’ on Ontario’s busy roads. The Dutch Reach method is a means of opening the car door by using the hand farthest away from the door, forcing you to check for passing cyclists before opening it. My bill would add the Dutch Reach into driver’s education training, a simple way to help change driver behaviour and keep cyclists safe. It’s part of a suite of measures the NDP is putting forward at Queen’s Park to make cycling safer. 

Learn more and show your support at: maritstiles.ca/teachthereach

Autism supports under threat

On February 19, I held an emergency roundtable to hear directly from Davenport families affected by the government’s callous changes to the Ontario Autism Program. I have also been pushing Premier Ford to come forward with a plan to make sure children re-entering the school system won’t be left without essential supports as a result of these changes.

After consistent pressure from families of children with autism and those of us in the Official Opposition, the government finally backed down on some elements of its plan, extending the timeline for the transition and eliminating mean-testing. Plenty of questions remain, however, and that’s why the NDP successfully passed a motion last week calling on the government to stop their plan to rip services away from children and replace it with a new, evidence-based and needs-based program for children with autism. 

Statement in support of the On Your Mark program