Building On Our Legacy: Equity as the Foundation of Public Education

As we publish this issue of Voice, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. The threat to local democracy posed by Bill 33 and this government’s centralization agenda is inseparable from the fight for equity in our public schools. You cannot have equity without democratic processes, representation and local voices, nor the ability of communities to make decisions that reflect their local needs. This is a truth that guides everything we do at ETFO.

ETFO’s vision for public education is one where every student, regardless of personal circumstances or geographic location, has access to a high-quality public education, and the tools and resources they need to be successful. This vision is rooted in the understanding that equity is not an abstract concept. It is the practical work of ensuring our schools are places of safety, representation, belonging and opportunity for all.

The past year has given us powerful reminders of why this work matters and why we must remain steadfast. We have engaged in the difficult but essential work of examining how ETFO must change and grow as an organization to better serve its members and students. At the same time, we have collectively challenged a Conservative government that continues to place more school boards under supervision rather than addressing the real issues facing our schools: underfunding, teacher retention and recruitment, and the growing needs of students.

We began February by marking Black History Month, a time to celebrate the immeasurable contributions of Black Canadians. But celebration must go hand in hand with vigilance. In March 2025, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released its Dreams Delayed report, detailing how systemic anti-Black racism continues to create barriers to equity, belonging and full participation for Black students, staff and families within Ontario’s publicly funded education system. The report calls on school boards to formally acknowledge these realities and commit to actively dismantling discriminatory practices.

ETFO recognizes that this work extends beyond school boards to include organizations much more broadly, including our own. We remain committed not only to celebrating Black history but to ensuring it is taught with the depth and accuracy it deserves, and that our public schools and our union benefit from Black voices, perspectives, and leadership. Together, we must ensure that Black joy, excellence and resistance are reflected not just in February, but all year long. You can download our Black History Month poster and other resources at etfo.ca.

We also marked International Women’s Day on March 8. This is a day to consider how far we have come in advancing women’s rights and how far we have yet to go. This year’s international theme at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, reminds us of the interconnectedness of systemic oppressions. It challenges us to examine the structures that disadvantage women and girls around the world, and to recognize that the fight for gender justice is inseparable from the fight for racial justice, disability justice and economic justice.

Justice and equity in our schools is connected to the investments we are able to secure at the bargaining table. In March, ETFO and the education affiliates called on the Ford Conservative government to begin the bargaining process early. We proposed bargaining as an opportunity for educators and the government to work together, collaboratively and meaningfully, to ensure students and educators have the supports and resources they need to be successful. All indications are that the government will not agree to early bargaining, despite the fact this would benefit students.

As we prepare for the challenging bargaining round ahead, let’s remember that our strength comes from our diversity, our solidarity and our unwavering commitment to every student. Together, we will continue to build on our legacy and make our vision for public education a reality.

– Sharon O’Halloran