Interview With NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

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Wednesday, 26 August 2020 17:35

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was in Paris and Brantford on Wednesday and took some time to call into Heart FM to talk about what she calls a reckless back to school plan from Doug Ford and the Conservatives.

BRANTFORD/PARIS - The leader of the official opposition was in Brantford and Paris on Wednesday.

Andrea Horwath started her day at the Lansdowne-Costain Public School in Brantford. She stood with two local parents who are wrestling with the decision to send their kids back to school in September. Horwath says Ford's plan is reckless.

“Mr. Ford’s refusal to step up and do the right things has put parents across the province in a situation where there are no good choices. On the one hand, folks can send their kids into packed classrooms, where physical distancing will often be impossible, knowing it will put their kids, and older or immuno-compromised loved ones at even more risk. Or they can choose to keep their children at home, and continue the superhuman juggling act they’ve been doing for months, knowing continued social isolation could have harmful effects on kids’ mental health and wellbeing.”

Parent Garnet Smith says she is really struggling with the decision to send her kids back to school.

“As a mother of two in grades 3 and SK I am naturally concerned for my children’s mental health and well-being. Although I know measures are being taken to protect my children as they return to class, I wonder if it will be enough. I fear that with the standard class size, the potential for my children to be exposed has increased unnecessarily and expands their ‘social bubble’ to numbers beyond our individual control — our social bubble which we have all tried to minimize since March.”

Ed House is a parent and a Secondary School Teacher in the GEDSB and he is extremely concerned about what September may look like.

“As a parent of two daughters attending elementary school, I don’t want to have to choose between in-school education and the safety of my children…I want both and if that means adjustments to the plan to return to school, then that is what parents need to demand now. What level of engagement can we expect from kids who will spend as much time trying to distance themselves from others, as they will spend time attempting to focus on a learning opportunity? As a teacher, I want to be able to offer your children a safe environment to learn. I feel sick to hear that this “plan” is what our own government deems as the best possible action. I have not spoken to one parent or teacher who believes that this plan could not be improved with smaller class sizes. I am disappointed. I expect proactive leadership at this time, not a government that puts out fires after they ignite.”

Horwath was also in Paris today to meet with Brant County Mayor Dan Bailey and she met with a small business owner at the Paris Wincey Mills. Horwath called into Heart FM for an exclusive interview at today. You can listen to that interview in it's entirety below: