Ottawa parents calling on Ontario to implement fall school plan well before September

A group of Ottawa parents and opposition politicians are calling on the Government of Ontario to implement a permanent in-person learning plan for students by this fall.

Roughly 100 parents rallied outside Ottawa City Hall on Friday, June 18.

The 'Speak Up For Kids' event called for a plan to be in place well ahead of the start of the next school year in September. 

“Students crave the social aspects of learning. There's so much communication that is non-verbal, and there are so many important relationships staff and students build in in-person learning,” said Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden. “But frankly, all I see with this government is the desire to save a buck.”

Another speaker, Grade 9 student Eden said political leaders should be listening to advice from health and science officials, the majority of whom suggested that kids in Ontario should have returned to classrooms earlier this month.