Elementary Educators

March 31 is National Indigenous Languages Day.

The United Nations declared 2022–2033 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Article 13(1) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms the right to revitalize, use, and transmit these languages to future generations. The Ministry of Education has not updated the Native Language Curriculum since 2001. We urge the Ministry to create updated curriculum documents and resources to support educators teaching Indigenous languages in classrooms across the province.

More than 70 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit languages are spoken across Canada; each carries unique cultures, identities, and histories. On this day, we celebrate the educators, community members, and students who are working every day to revitalize and nurture these languages.

Registration for ETFO’s Advanced Public Speaking women’s program is now open!

This two-day program is intended for members who wish to enhance their public speaking skills as part of their leadership work in the union and community. Registration closes April 7. Sign up today: https://events.etfo.org

Ontario’s Education Unions United: Budget Underscores Need for Early Bargaining

“Ontario families, teachers, and education workers continue to hear the Ford government claim that publicly funded education is benefiting from unprecedented investment. Inside schools, however, the reality is stark: our system is in crisis and the government’s proposed budget, which fails students, teachers, and education workers yet again, will only exacerbate the situation.

Chronic underfunding has led to large classes, rising violence, and an urgent need to address teacher and education worker retention and recruitment. Students with special education needs wait years for assessments and supports, while our members stretch themselves beyond reasonable limits to meet increasingly complex needs without the resources required. These are not signs of ‘historic’ investment, but the predictable outcomes of long-term neglect.

Despite the government’s messaging, per‑student funding (once adjusted for inflation) remains lower than when this government first took office. We remain ready to work constructively and to find solutions through the bargaining process as soon as the government is prepared to come to the table.”

Read the full joint statement issued by Ontario Education unions in response to the government's latest budget at https://www.etfo.ca/news-publications/media-releases/ontario%E2%80%99s-education-unions-united-budget-underscores-need-for-early-bargaining

In February, we began our member mobilization campaign for the 2026 round of central bargaining. Our first action was a petition drive. Over the span of one month, we gathered more than 50,000 signatures!

All week, MPPs have been reading our petitions in the legislature to deliver our message directly to the government. Together, we are sending a clear message that we are mobilizing to defend publicly funded education. Join us - add your voice at https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/take_action