Ontario’s Big City Mayors call for schools to be reopened

We know Ontario has the tools to get our schools safely open, we’ve been dealing with COVID and various waves for close to two years now.

Thestar.com
Jan. 11, 2022
Mayor Patrick Brown and Mayor Bryan Paterson

It is time to re-open our schools. The stats are clear. One of the safest spaces for children is inside of school. The number of transmissions is low with students and as public health data shows, children usually experience milder COVID-19 symptoms compared to adults. Your children are in a safe space to learn and continue to thrive.

Over the last several weeks, we have witnessed first-hand the effect of the Omicron variant on our health-care system and we understand the provincial government needs to take measures to protect the integrity and viability of our hospitals. But not at the continued expense of the mental health and well-being of our children.

What we’re seeing now is hospitals, non-profits, pediatric associations, child health advocates and municipalities joining the call of parents and students across Ontario in saying enough is enough -- let’s prioritize our kids.

We echo the recent comments of the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Pediatrics Section of the Ontario Medical Association, and the Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario, in their letter to Premier Doug Ford on Jan. 7 expressing concern about Ontario’s decision to shut down in-person learning for almost all K-12 students until Jan. 17.

According to pediatricians, “online learning is harmful. Social isolation and prolonged in-person school closures have precipitated increases in unhealthy behaviours -- such as excessive screen time, reduced physical activity, and substance use -- and prevented children and youth from engaging in protective behaviours, such as connecting with their peers, participating in sports and recreation, and celebrating milestones.”

As mayors representing large cities in different parts of the province, on Monday we put forward the following motion, which was unanimously supported by the Ontario Big City’s Mayors (OBCM):

WHEREAS Ontario’s students have spent more time learning ‘online’ and out of class during the pandemic (26 weeks and counting) than any other jurisdiction in North America, and;

WHEREAS OBCM Mayors agree that in-person learning is without a doubt the best for children, any they will continue to work with public health to encourage as many children and educators to get vaccinated as soon as possible so we can re-open schools, and;

WHEREAS the mental, physical and emotional health of our students is paramount as the pandemic enters a third year, and students, parents, teachers and support staff continue to face unpredictability on the return to class;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT in keeping within the well defined roles of municipalities, OBCM mayors encourage expansion of vaccination efforts for students and education workers and extend any other support for school boards and the province to help ensure the reopening of schools and a return to in-class learning on January 17th given that pediatric and health organizations and most parents recognize in class learning as the strongly preferred option for Ontario students,

AND THAT OBCM requests the province take every safety measure possible to keep safe all school staff, daycare staff and students.

We also agree with the comments made by Eric Adams, the new mayor of New York City, who stated, “I’m troubled that we almost had a two-year loss for our children. They’re behind in math, behind in English,” he said, adding that remote learning is not ideal for children who don’t have access to high-speed internet or rely on school meals. “When you start to disrupt the stability of education, it has a rippling impact throughout our entire city. Parents can’t keep their children home. They have to work. The economy is also part of this crisis that we are facing.”

We know Ontario has the tools to get our schools safely open, we’ve been dealing with COVID and various waves for close to two years now. The tools include vaccinations, masks, and better ventilation systems. Parents, teachers, support staff and students expect better of our leaders. The “dog ate my homework” expression is not believable. We must do everything in our power to give our students the best opportunity for success and that means getting them back in the classroom.