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LETTER: Province's back-to-school plan needs more safety measures in place

Reader calls for rapid testing in schools, smaller class sizes and paid sick days for all Ontarians
Letter to the Editor
School books on desk
Stock photo

BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is from former NDP candidate Pekka Reinio regarding the province's plans for back-to-school on Monday.
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We all want our kids and young people back in school. The education and mental health of our children is everyone’s top priority.

Students need to be learning face-to-face, in a classroom, with their peers. This is one reason why educators were picketing last yearL to fight against mandatory online classes imposed by the provincial government.

The reopening of schools must, however, be done properly, and so far, the Ford government has chosen not to implement all possible safety measures. 

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has reported that there are 147 cases of the UK variant, either confirmed or probable, across Simcoe County. This variant is not to be downplayed or dismissed.

For a safe re-opening, the provincial government must not delay implementing all safety measures at their disposal:

  1. Rapid testing in schools

  2. Smaller class sizes

  3. Paid sick days for all Ontarians

Sixty per cent of all Canadians do not have access to paid sick days which puts many people in a difficult situation: go to work sick or stay home without pay. Lack of paid sick days has a direct link to community transmission at work, at home and potentially, at school.

Let’s also be very clear. Contrary to Stephen Lecce’s shaming and blaming, educators are not congregating, unmasked, in staff rooms or elsewhere. The real concern is with upwards of 30 or more students crammed into classrooms. Large congregate settings in classrooms means students and staff are at a heightened risk of acquiring and transmitting COVID-19. 

Currently, Ontario is not offering widespread asymptomatic testing. Ontario relies on targeted, asymptomatic, voluntary testing. There is no current timeline for asymptomatic testing in Simcoe County.   

Minister Lecce must act decisively, right now. 

Instead of ostracizing educators, we need leadership and statesmanship. Minister Lecce must work with all stakeholders and follow expert advice to ensure that schools reopen safely and can remain open for our children and young people.

Pekka Reinio
Barrie

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