INCREASING OUR POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE UPCOMING 2022 PROVINCIAL ELECTION
BY CINDY GANGARAM I
don’t know about you, but for me, the last few years have been exhausting. It all started in June 2018, when I went from hopeful that we might elect a provincial government that believed in building better schools and free
child care for low income families, to my total shock at the Ford Conservatives win- ning a majority government despite getting less than 25 percent of the popular vote. I bet many of you were thinking what I was think- ing: this is going to be a long four years. Three years into their government and
the picture couldn’t be clearer. To ensure the well-being of all Ontarians we need the Con- servatives out of provincial office. Their gov- ernment has harmed so many communities, while acting to support wealthy Conservative interests. Their continued attacks on public education and on educators have made their desire to dismantle and privatize our world- class public education system clear. By dis- respecting education workers, our working conditions and the learning conditions of
8 ETFO VOICE | SUMMER 2021
students, the government has put everyone in the public education system at risk. So, I know we’re tired, but we have to give
each other a boost. Maybe you’re only a little interested in politics and elections; maybe you’re already a little involved. Whatever your current level of political engagement, educators need to increase the depth of our involvement in the run up to the 2022 pro- vincial election. We need to work together with our communities to unseat the Ford Conservatives. We owe it to ourselves, and we can help make it happen for Ontarians if we organize and mobilize together.
REFLECTING ON THE PANDEMIC
The pandemic has shone a light on the pro- vincial government’s incompetence and its inability to prioritize the well-being of Ontarians in this crisis. It has failed to keep people and communities healthy and safe. As I write this in late April, Ontario’s ICUs are over capacity and COVID-19 infections are spreading rapidly, particularly among
frontline workers and their families. The virus has proliferated as the Ford Conser- vatives ignored the recommendations and projections of their own scientific advisors. So many people have died and continue to die unnecessarily. Although it is clear that what is needed is immediate paid sick days for all Ontario workers and support
for
those communities already marginalized before the pandemic, the Ford government’s recent response was to expand police pow- ers. We have watched repeated and avoidable tragedy in long-term care facilities. We heard words of appreciation for frontline workers with no commitment to increased pay, paid sick days or adequate health and safety mea- sures despite knowing virus exposure and transmission happens at work for the most vulnerable and marginalized workers. As we head into May, it is increasingly clear that the Conservatives have no strategy for the vac- cine rollout and, worse yet, have shown gross negligence in failing to prioritize those who need it most.
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