Ontario ombudsman to investigate Doug Ford's direct education payments to parents
The province’s ombudsman will be launching an investigation into Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government decision to give parents money directly to help support their child’s education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a news release issued Monday, the office cited complaints from parents who were denied payments because “someone else had claimed the money first.”
According to the ombudsman, some parents learned that a relative who was not caring for a child had claimed the money, and there was no recourse to get it back.
“We heard disturbing accounts from parents who were not only denied funding for the children in their care – they were not told who received the payments,” Ombudsman Paul Dube said in a statement. “People have complained to us about this issue through successive iterations of these programs, and the latest version is likely not the last.”
“Our investigation will look for the root of the problem and recommend ways to make these programs fair and transparent going forward.”
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Ontario parents have received four versions of direct payments since 2020, when the pandemic forced schools to shutter to in-person learning. At the time, it was meant to help support at-home education.
Since then, the government has offered parents variations of this funding to help support both at-home learning and tutoring to help them “catch up.” The most recent of this funding was expected to cost about $225 million over two years.
Parents were told to apply for the funding online by providing the name of a child’s school, their date of birth, and their preferred payment method.
On the government’s website it specifies that only one parent or guardian may apply per student.
“It is up to the child’s parents or guardians to determine who will apply,” the website said. “We are not involved in these decisions and will not accept duplicate applications.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minister of Education said that about 2.2 million students benefitted from the payments.
"In a time of unprecedented need, our government provided direct financial relief to parents to support their children as they catch up on the basics of reading, writing and math,” Isha Chaudhuri said.
“We heard from experts on the critical need to intervene and ensure tutoring supports are available for students.”
The ministry said it will work with the ombudsman’s office as they conduct their investigation.
The office says they have received about 200 complaints about the programs since January 2020.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972482.1721645253!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Harris praises Biden's 'unmatched' legacy, looks to lock up the Democratic nomination
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their party that he would be unable to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
WATCH LIVE 'We failed,' says Secret Service director grilled on Trump assassination attempt
The director of the Secret Service says the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump was the agency's 'most significant operational failure' in decades.
Hollywood reacts to Joe Biden exiting the U.S. presidential race
Hollywood was quick to react to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Prince George is 11 -- see his birthday photo
Prince George has turned 11, and as per tradition his proud parents have released an official portrait to mark the occasion.
Two-thirds of Canadians polled say they 'desperately' need interest rates to go down
A new survey says the Bank of Canada's recent interest rate cut did little to change Canadians' negative perceptions about their personal finances.
Israel orders evacuation of part of Gaza humanitarian zone as war's toll passes 39,000 Palestinians
The Israeli military ordered the evacuation Monday of part of a crowded area in the Gaza Strip it had designated a humanitarian zone, saying it is planning an operation against Hamas militants there.
Wildfire forces evacuation of B.C.'s Barkerville gold rush heritage site
Visitors have been told to avoid B.C.'s historic Barkerville gold rush town, which is among several areas in the province's Cariboo region under evacuation orders due to the massive Antler Creek wildfire.
LeBron James to be Team USA's male flag bearer for Olympic Opening Ceremony
NBA legend LeBron James has been selected as Team USA’s male flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.