Don’t mess with our kids

Dr. Charles Pascal is absolutely correct: the Ontario government’s claim to extensive education consultation is nonsense. Our MPP Todd Smith certainly has done nothing to consult with our community. Certainly, when he asked us for his vote, Todd Smith never mentioned his plans to cut services for our students. He has no mandate for these cuts.

In fact, I am yet to meet a single person in Prince Edward County who believes that removing a quarter of teachers from our high schools will actually help students to learn.

We all know these cuts will lead to worse outcomes for young people in our community: mandatory e-learning for all students, fewer supports for our most vulnerable students, fewer courses offered for those who want to go on to college or university, fewer courses in the arts and skilled trades, and more than likely fewer extracurricular opportunities for students outside the classroom.

As part of Doug Ford’s innermost circle, our MPP Todd Smith must either use his seat in Cabinet to immediately reverse these cuts or resign from Cabinet in protest. If, instead, he continues to work for the Premier and not the people he was elected to represent here in PEC, he will risk losing his seat in the next election.

One thing he can count on is that as his constituents, County residents will work every day to remind him that our kids are too important to give him a second chance. Don’t mess with our kids, Todd!

Rob Garden, Wellington