Ontario parents to get another payout in 2022 budget
Some parents may get direct payments from the Ontario government yet again this year.
The payments, which were previously not included in the 2022 budget, were first mentioned in the government’s throne speech on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking in the legislature, Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell said that when the budget is re-introduced, it will include an additional $225 million over two years in direct payments to parents “to help their kids catch up.”
“This funding, which will put money directly into parents’ pockets, is on top of the more than $26.6 billion the province is investing in public education, the most ever in Ontario’s history,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance confirmed to CTV News Toronto this funding was a new addition to the budget and that details are still being finalized, including whether all parents will receive the payments or if the distribution will be more targeted.
Information about eligibility, as well as how much money parents can anticipate, is expected in the coming days.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy told reporters the funding will help “fill gaps in learning for students after two years of pandemic disruptions.”
“We'll have more details in regards to how we're going to roll out that program. But let me tell you this, we're going to listen to parents, we're going to listen to many people to say what's the best way we can deliver the right type of funding to support parents.,” he said.
The funding is less than what was proposed in the 2021 budget, when the Ford government set aside $980 million to offset costs incurred by parents as a result of virtual learning.
At the time, parents received $400 per child aged 0 to Grade 12. Parents with children who have special needs under the age of 21 received $500.
This will be the fourth payout to parents since Premier Doug Ford took office in 2018. The other two instances were rolled out under the Support For Learners program at the beginning of the pandemic.
Under that program parents received $200 per child or $250 per child with special needs. This cost the Forde government an estimated $868 million.
If the same parents are eligible for this round of funding, it could equal about $90 to $100 per kid.
When asked why the $225 million wasn’t being directed to school boards, Bethlenfalvy pivoted to talk about the billions the government is already spending on education, tutoring and mental health supports for students in the public education system.
The union representing education workers, who are currently in negotiations for a new contract, said in a statement they have been calling for greater investments in schools.
“Meanwhile, this throne speech announced $225-million that would go to parents who are bafflingly supposed to now find private tutors to help their kids catch up,” President of CUPE Ontario Fred Hahn said.
“Ontarians deserve better than this recycled pre-election budget.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
A subset of Alzheimer's cases may be caused by two copies of a single gene, new research shows
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.