In Solidarity, for Our Students and Our Future

It is with immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I assume the role of president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. I am honoured to have the opportunity to build on ETFO’s powerful legacy of advocacy – one rooted in an unshakeable commitment to justice, equity and a strong, inclusive public education system for every student.

I want to begin by extending my gratitude to our outgoing president, Karen Brown. Karen’s fierce defence of public schools, her commitment to equity and her profound dedication to the well-being of every student and educator have left an indelible mark on our union and have fortified our foundation.

Looking forward, ETFO’s priorities are clear: We will continue to protect public education and work together and with our communities to advance equity and social justice. Central to this mission is the upcoming 2026 round of collective bargaining, where the critical issue of class size is intrinsically linked to equity. Large classes cause all students to struggle, but disproportionately impact those who are most vulnerable. Smaller classes are fundamental to building the calm, inclusive and identity-affirming learning environments that allow every child to thrive. They also allow us to address educator working conditions, including the retention and recruitment crisis.

Reducing class size in Ontario public schools requires investment. It means valuing students and educators and understanding where resources are most needed. Instead of investing in public schools, the Ford government has cut funding and undermined the structures that ensure democratic representation.

On May 29, the government introduced Bill 33, a sweeping and dangerous piece of legislation that would allow the Ministry of Education to take over any school board and paves the way to bring police back into public schools. This is part of a broader strategy to undermine and underfund public education, creating a crisis meant to usher in privatization.

You see this happening across the public sector. The government starves the services and social safety nets Ontarians rely on then claims they aren’t working. In reality, these vital resources are being held together by the professionalism and determination of workers. This is not sustainable, nor is it fair to the dedicated public servants who make Ontario work.

In public education, trustees are elected to be local advocates for students and families. For our education system to remain responsive and accountable, trustees must be free to speak out without fear of being removed in response to principled advocacy. Local voices are critical to local school board governance. Our communities are vastly different across the province and they should not be governed solely by the dictate of the education minister in Toronto.

I urge every member to reach out to your school board trustees and thank them for their advocacy. Contact your MPPs and demand they oppose Bill 33. To those of you in boards already under provincial control, your advocacy is more critical than ever. If your elected trustees can no longer champion the needs of your community, you must hold your MPP directly accountable for the lack of support and resources available to the children in our schools.

ETFO members know that when workers organize together, we win. Our collective voice is our most powerful tool. I was inspired to rally with Air Canada flight attendants in my first week as president, and by their historic campaign for workplace improvements and against unfair government interference in collective bargaining.

In the year ahead, I look forward to organizing with all of you to defend a public education system that is equitable, inclusive and worthy of every student it serves.

– David Mastin