NDP: Developers should help pay for new schools and repairs

QUEEN’S PARK - Ontario NDP Housing critic Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) and Education critic Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West – Nepean) joined TDSB Trustee Deborah Williams to announce a motion calling on the Ford Conservatives to permit the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to collect development charges to help fund the construction, repair and maintenance of schools.

“Every parent has seen that TDSB sign on a construction fence, warning them that due to resident growth their local school could be too full to accommodate their child,” said Bell.

“Other school boards in Ontario have the right to collect developer fees for new schools, and it’s time for the Conservatives to give the Toronto District School Board access to that funding stream as well” said Bell.

“We are a rapidly growing city, and without additional revenue, our school system will not ready to educate the 30,000 additional children that are expected to enroll in the TDSB,” said Bell.

The TDSB estimates education development charges will bring in approximately $500 million of revenue over the next 15 years.

NDP Education critic Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West – Nepean) highlighted the challenges faced by schools across the province, especially with the multi-billion-dollar repair backlog.

“The latest figures that we have for the school repair backlog is $16.8 billion, but that’s from 2019. And yet, the government is only committing $1.4 billion a year to school repairs. Even though over a quarter of the backlog is in Toronto schools, the TDSB is not being given the resources to address it. This must change.”

The NDP is calling for these charges to be part of an overall funding plan to build and maintain schools to a state of good repair.

QUOTES

TDSB Trustee for Ward 10 Deborah WIlliams:

“We are expected to build 285,000 new homes in Toronto and our schools need to be ready to enroll and teach an extra 30,000 children over the next decade.

While other school boards in Ontario are allowed to collect EDCs, the TDSB is at a massive disadvantage as they are not allowed to collect these charges, costing the school board $500 million in lost revenue over the next 15 years. We need the Ontario government to make this change to ensure we meet the growing needs of our city, students, and families.”