Horwath calls on Ford to hit the reset button on education, fire Stephen Lecce

QUEEN’S PARK — Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition New Democrats, is calling on Doug Ford to hit the reset button on education negotiations by removing Education Minister Stephen Lecce, and giving a new minister a new mandate — one that doesn’t include cuts to education.

“As premier, the buck stops with Doug Ford. He is the only one that can end these strikes and get our kids back in the classroom where they belong,” said Horwath. “Mr. Lecce has further poisoned the relationship with the teachers, the unions at the bargaining table, and the province’s parents and students.

“That’s why I’m now calling on Doug Ford to hit the reset button. Fire Stephen Lecce. And give a new Minister of Education a new mandate to bargain a deal that does not include cuts to classrooms.”

Horwath said that, like Ford, Lecce has demonized education workers, ramped up the rhetoric and dug in his heels on the cuts to children’s education. The impact, she said, is a bad relationship that’s a roadblock to a deal — which means more missed school days for students.