Tag: Federal role
Ottawa, March 2, 2023 – The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) is proud to announce that its new project focused on improving the mental health of teachers and education workers is set to launch after receiving funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
With project partners at the University of Ottawa and other experts in mental health, the project, Educator Well-Being during Pandemic Recovery: Supporting the Mental Health of Teachers and Education Workers, aims to promote mental health and well-being and to prevent mental illness among K-12 public education workers by increasing the capacity of the whole school staff. The Canadian Government has committed a total of $798,500 over the next year to support this pilot project.
“After two years of pandemic disruptions throughout Canada’s publicly funded public education systems, the mental health of teachers and educators is in dire need of proper care and attention,” said Sam Hammond, CTF/FCE President. “Through the federal government’s funding, this project is a step in the right direction to ensure teachers and educators have the necessary tools to address mental illness and trauma through the next phases of pandemic recovery.”
The project follows the CTF/FCE’s long-standing focus on student and teacher mental health, including significant research documenting the effects of the pandemic on teachers and education workers’ mental health and well-being. The objective of this project is to take a systemic approach to supporting mental health and well-being and to develop a collegial model for mental health support. The project evaluation will inform how best to scale up the model to more schools across the country.
“Educators are on the frontline and often see the direct impact that the pandemic has on not only their students, but also on their colleagues, friends, and family,” said The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health.
In collaboration with CTF/FCE Member Organizations, the project will be implemented and tested in three pilot school sites across Canada, including one French-language school. The pilots are expected to begin in September 2023 and continue until January 2024.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 365,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 32-million educators.
Media contact
Andrew King,
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 819-213-7847
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-957-2983
[email protected]
Federal role in public education grows in Canada’s latest economic update
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) is pleased to see the federal government stepping up again to support teachers and all education workers and safer schools through the Economic Fiscal Update announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, including:
- $110 million earmarked to the safe return to school fund plus an additional $70 million dedicated to Infrastructure – all for school ventilation;
- $1.7 billion to Health Canada for rapid tests to be provided to schools and workplaces ; and,
- Expansion of definition of eligible teaching supplies to include tech as well as items that are not necessarily used in classrooms.
“With the pandemic far from over, we at the CTF/FCE welcome the federal government’s investment to help enhance protections for students and school staff from the threat of COVID-19,” said CTF/FCE President Sam Hammond. “We want to keep classrooms open without students’ learning opportunities or teacher mental health suffering any further.”
The recommitment of funding for improved ventilation in schools and the procurement of rapid testing and vaccine doses will help make schools safer for everyone. We’ve seen the roll-out of vaccines for those aged 5 and up and the pressure to tackle new waves with emergent strains of COVID-19 is building.
Following through on a promise to increase the teacher tax deduction for out-of-pocket purchases for teaching and learning resources is a step in the right direction but should remind Canadians that provinces and territories must increase funding so that teachers and all education workers needn’t cover the costs for necessary supplies.
The federal government’s increasing role in publicly funded public education and desire to work more closely with teachers and all education workers is evident. When it comes to challenges that face all teachers, education workers, students, and their families there needs to be a direct channel and avenue for dialogue with Ottawa. That is why the CTF/FCE is continuing to call on the federal government to establish a National Advisory Table on Public Education with the teaching profession and relevant stakeholders.
“The pandemic showed Canadians how central publicly funded public education is to millions of families, their communities, and the economy. This Economic Fiscal Update opens the conversation to the need of an ongoing federal role in public education,” said Hammond.
From poverty to mental health, racism and Truth and Reconciliation, addressing Canada’s biggest issues begins in the classroom, which is why public education needs to be a national conversation.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation
Founded in 1920, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation is the national voice for the teaching profession. As the national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations, the CTF/FCE represents over 365,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada.
Media contact
Andrew King,
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 819-213-7847
