Fund Our Schools: Tell Ford to make developers pay their fair share

For decades our provincial government has let rich Toronto developers off the hook from paying Educational Development Charges (EDCs) that would help fund public schools in disrepair.[1]

The pandemic has exposed how our crumbling schools are public health hazards. Toronto's students have lost out on hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to update and repair their schools because of this regulatory loophole.

If thousands of us take action by sending a message, we can put pressure on the provincial government to change the legislation. Send your message below and scroll down to read more.

Why Our Schools Need Funding Now

Toronto schools urgently need  $4 billion in repairs and the pandemic has exposed how school disrepair, over-crowded classrooms, and poor ventilation systems are not only compromising students’ learning environments, but are public health hazards as well. Back-to-school has become unsafe and scary for students, educators, and families.

Our underfunded schools disproportionately impact marginalized communities. With added pressures from the pandemic, many wealthier families are pulling their children from unsafe public schools and opting for private options; meanwhile lower-income families are left choosing between their family’s health and their children’s education.

 

Why Developers Need to Invest in Our Schools

When developers sell new housing, they are profiting from our investments in public infrastructure. For decades, they have been able to avoid investing in the same communities they are profiting from due to a regulatory loophole in provincial law.

Because of this loophole, Toronto's students have lost out on hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to update and repair their schools. Meanwhile, for the Catholic school board this loophole has already been closed and has meant the Toronto Catholic District School Board has received over $200 million from EDCs since 1998. All school boards in the city should be able to collect these funds, so all students have the same opportunities.

Progress Toronto partnered with the Broadbent Institute and Fix Our Schools to develop a report on EDCs. You can read the full report on what collecting EDCs can mean for our public schools by clicking here.

It is time that developers pay their fair share so our city’s students have safe schools where they can be active and learn.