July 30, 2019 — In an announcement yesterday, the Ford government proclaimed a commitment to promoting student readiness for careers in the skilled trades and STEM. Once again, however, the government's actions directly contradict its stated intentions. While claiming to be promoting careers in STEM and the skilled trades, the government is instead closing off avenues to the those very careers. Premier Ford's plan to eliminate one quarter of Ontario's high school teaching positions will seriously reduce secondary students' access to courses preparing them in the skilled trades and STEM.

Without these courses, the government’s strategy of promoting the trades and STEM will have little chance to succeed.

This demonstrates the clear disconnect between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. If the government was serious about promoting the trades and STEM they would cancel the cuts to the province’s high schools. Ontario’s economy needs more students who can take on the jobs of tomorrow and Ontario’s teachers and education workers are ready to achieve that goal, but they can't do it without the government's support.