How to Stop the Cuts to Education Toolkit:

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is currently short $63.2 million because of Premier Ford’s refusal to fund education. Without funding from the province, the TDSB will be facing deep cuts in order to pass a balanced budget, which will mean fewer education workers, resources, and class choices for Toronto’s students. You can learn more here.

Ford has the power to fund schools and make sure all students get the education they deserve, but the conservative government is choosing not to. You have an opportunity to tell the Ford Government that you want more investment in public education, not less.

Scroll down to access the toolkit to help stop the cuts to education. This toolkit is designed to walk you through the actions you can take to get involved and help fight for public education.

Here are 3 things you can do to stop the cuts:

  1. Speak at the TDSB Committee meeting on Monday, June 12:

    • The TDSB financial committee meeting on June 12 is your chance to speak up (otherwise known as “making a delegation”) and let decision-makers know that you do not want any more cuts to schools.

    • View our step-by-step guide here

  2. Contact your local MPP and tell them to invest in education:

  3. Set up a meeting with your local MPP and bring your neighbours and community:

    • Arrange for you and a group of your neighbours to meet with your local MPP. You can share your story and why you want the provincial government to fund public education.

    • View our step-by-step guide here

Find more information in our factsheet materials or below:
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1. How to Speak at a TDSB Committee

Speaking at a TDSB committee (also known as “making a delegation”) is a great way to have your say at the school board about what you want in education. You will have 5 minutes to share why you want more funding from the provincial government for students to avoid any cuts to Toronto schools and enhance resources and supports.

Sign Up to Speak on the School Budget on Monday, June 12

  1. Go to tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom

  2. Click “Delegations”

  3. Download the form and fill it out. You will be asked:

    • the name of the speaker and the name of the organization/school (share if you are representing a parent, student, or community group)

    • your contact information (address, number and/or e-mail)

  4. On the form you will be asked which committee and the agenda item. Here’s how to fill it out:

    • Committee: Finance, Budget, and Enrolment

  5. Once you are done filling out the form, email it to: delegates@tdsb.on.ca

How to Structure Your Delegation

Think of your delegation like a burger and reflect on the questions below to start writing your speech. You can use the worksheet to help you write!

Introduction (top bun): Who are you? What community group or organization are you part of? Why is public education important to you? Here you can share that you don’t want cuts to education and are looking for more investment.

Main part/body (patty and toppings): Share an example of how you or your family have been personally affected by cuts to education. How would future cuts to funding schools impact you? Here you can also use some of the information shared on the petition page.

Conclusion (bottom bun): What decisions do you want the Committee to make? What thoughts do you want to leave Committee members with? Remind the Committee why you’re there!

2. Contact your local MPP and Premier Ford

Getting in touch with your local MPP and Premier Doug Ford is one of the best ways to share your views on the importance of funding public education. We have an online petition that you can use to send your message to your representatives (over 1,000 people have signed!). Additionally, below we have outlined how you can personally contact your local MPP and Premier Ford via email or phone.

Here is Premier Ford’s contact information:
Phone number: 416-325-1941
Email: premier@ontario.ca

Find your MPP’s email address and phone number:

  1. Go to ola.org/en/members

  2. Scroll down to the “Find my MPP” section and enter your full address into the search bar

  3. Once you find your MPP, scroll down to their constituency section to find their phone number and email address

Draft email:
Dear [insert name of your MPP] and Premier Ford,

I am writing to you today to urge you to stop your government’s cuts to education and invest in Toronto’s public schools. The TDSB is predicting a $63.2 million shortfall and the 2023 Provincial Budget does not address this funding crisis.  

This cut will impact our schools and our students’ education. [Share why you care about education and what the impacts of the cuts will have on you and your family]

The provincial government needs to stop the cuts to education and to properly fund the schools so all students can thrive.

[Your name]
[Your postal code]

Script for calling your MPP or Premier Ford:
Hi,

My name is [your name] and I live in [insert riding]. I am calling today to urge you to stop the cuts to education and invest in our public schools. The TDSB is predicting a $63.2 million shortfall and the 2023 Provincial Budget does not address this funding crisis.

The provincial government needs to stop the cuts to education and to properly fund the schools so all students can thrive.

Thank you and I am looking forward to seeing this change.

3. Meeting with your Local Politician

Important decisions about education are made at Queen’s Park by locally elected representatives. Meeting and sharing your perspectives with politicians is one of the best ways we can influence decision-makers.

Setting up a meeting with your local representative and speaking to them is very powerful. Arrange a time when your community members can join you—there is strength in numbers!

You are an expert on your own experience with the public education system. In fact, listing a bunch of facts to a politician is not what will win them over at the end of the day. Instead, telling your personal story and talking about your experiences is one of the most persuasive and powerful things you can do. And no one knows your story better than you.

Set up your meeting with your MPP:

  • Go to ola.org/en/members

  • Scroll down to the “Find my MPP” section and enter your address into the search bar

  • Once you find your MPP, scroll down to their constituency section to find their phone number and email address

What are some things to do before the meeting?

  • Research: Review the bio of the politician you are meeting with

  • Meet early with others: Meet up with those joining you in the meeting and review the meeting structure. Decide who will take the lead, who will tell their stories, who will take notes, and which topics each of you will address.

General Meeting Tips:

  • Be prepared to politely take the “mic” back if the politician starts to get off topic

  • Don’t worry if you don’t have an answer to a question they ask. Simply promise to get back to them

  • Be yourself! You’re a resident speaking with an elected representative. Talk about your experience with the underfunded public education system and put a human face on the issue.

Sharing your personal story about why education matters to you:

Telling your personal story, not fact-listing, is what will leave a lasting impression with your elected representative. And your story is something only you can offer. 

You are telling your story for a reason. You want it to demonstrate the choice that the politician faces. Show them how they can solve a problem and/or provide residents with an opportunity. 

You can tell a story of your experience with the education system and why it needs to be properly funded. You can share how your story is something thousands of others experience. Make sure the conclusion presents a choice that can be made by the politician to make change. 

Your story should let them know who you are, show them why you are meeting with them, and point to something that they can change.

Before you decide what part of your personal story to tell, think about these questions:

  • What will I be calling on the politician to do?

  • What is a story that I can tell that includes a challenge, a choice or some uncertainty that would motivate the politician?

What your story should do: 

  • Share an experience

  • Paint a scene - something vivid that paints a picture so they can imagine it

  • Provide a positive ending or an opportunity for them to help create one (the change)

What you should not do when telling your story:

  • List your resume

  • Tell your autobiography

  • List the issues

  • Sound like there is no hope