The moratorium was issued six years ago by the former liberal government after criticism of school closures, especially in rural areas.

At the time, the province said it would review how school boards decide to close a school.

Is this review complete? Until when does the moratorium apply? The office of current Education Secretary Stephen Lecce did not respond to questions from The Canadian Press.

Minister Lecce’s spokeswoman, Grace Lee, is reassuring.

” We don’t close schools. »

Our government is providing $14 billion to modernize existing schools and build new, state-of-the-art schools across OntarioShe says.

lack of money

For its part, the Association of Public School Boards says its members have done so carefully balancing the maintenance of aging infrastructure, changing enrollments and financial pressures while doing their best to provide quality programs in their schools.

Six years later, however, councils say they face “unsustainable funding constraints” because it costs the same to run and heat a school, whether it’s full or at 25% capacity, the association says.

Liberal MP Mitzie Hunter, who was Education Secretary when the moratorium was imposed, says it was not her intention at the time to keep the moratorium in place for six years.

This was to be a pause so we could develop a new school evaluation system that truly gives a stronger voice to students, parents and the communityShe explains.

New Democratic leader Marit Stiles finds it “disturbing” that the government is trying to pretend this is not a problem for school boards.

If they don’t allow the authorities to close schools, they must be able to adequately fund the authorities so that they can build the new schools they need.she argues.