Across Ontario this summer, people have been standing up against the Ford government’s destruction of our communities. Supporting Grassy Narrows First Nation, in their 60 year fight against the government for compensation for mercury poisoning of their water. Fighting against the unjust removal of hard-won bike lanes across downtown Toronto. Forcing the government to abandon its plans to allow commercial jets to land on Toronto island and decimate the water front. Protesting against the privatizing of our health care and education system.
At the same time, a global climate crisis is rapidly unfolding and it is the working class that suffers the most from the massive transfer of public resources away from social resources such as public health care and education.
It’s working class people that first experience the effects of climate chaos and will continue to pay the highest price. Every aspect of working peoples’ lives is affected by having a government that puts profits ahead of people. The Namaygoosisagagun First Nation (also known as Collins First Nation) in the north was completely wiped out by forest fires this summer and people across the province experienced smoke-filled days. Flash foods swept through parts of Ontario, leaving communities helpless.
Despite the devastating contents of Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2026, confirming that risks and adverse impacts from climate change escalate with every increment of global warming, Ford’s government continues to finance fossil fuel energy. Cheaper and cleaner alternatives in the form of wind and solar energy are readily available, but the fossil fuel industry is the most profitable for the oil and gas companies who are in Ford’s inner circle. As people continue to connect the dots, a mass movement is shaping up to change this direction.
As the temperatures cool, and students are back in school, the fight against the Ford government is about to heat up. 275,000 education workers across Ontario are currently in collective bargaining with the provincial government, with three unions (ETFO, OECTA, and CUPE-OSBCU) having a central strike vote in November. They are pushing back against starvation of our school system. Programs for children with special needs are under attack. Funding cuts forced the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to cut five Outdoor Education Centres, leaving some city kids without a chance to connect with nature as part of the curriculum. The Ford government has taken away any democratic avenues for citizens to elect trustees who will fight for their children’s rights. Entire school boards have been taken over by the province to create the illusion that it is the school boards who are wasting money but in fact it’s the underfunding of the system that is the root of the problem.
Climate issues are health issues. Only one third of schools in the TDSB have functional air conditioning systems, with constant delays in funding plans to modernize the remaining buildings. While school boards can’t afford to keep children safe, the government is paying exorbitant amounts to appoint puppets in place of democratically elected trustees. Not only does hiring more education workers help even out the disastrous educator-to-student ratios in Ontario’s schools, but it also supports the green economy as it creates more jobs in the caring sector — a low-carbon sector. There are also well paying jobs to be had in retrofitting older schools, and mandating air conditioning in all new schools. A government that puts profit ahead of everything else, does not care about our children’s health.
Thousands of parents and supporters in the community came out to support the right to strike of 55,000 education workers in 2022 and forced the Ford government to repeal Bill 28 (Keeping Students in Class Act).
The education workers’ bargaining fight is a strategic opportunity for everyone who wants to defeat Ford’s agenda. Over a quarter of a million workers have the potential power to significantly disrupt Ontario’s economy, and they are getting organized to do it. The fight against climate change and the fight against the underfunding of our public institutions are the same fight. We are all allies and there is potential for a government take-down if we can support each other.
Join one of the five rallies across Ontario this Saturday, October 24th at 1pm ET, happening in London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Toronto. For details and to RSVP, click here.
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