Ontario Children's Health Coalition 'deeply disappointed' schools will stay closed

On Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that schools in Ontario will remain closed until at least September. In response, the Ontario Children's Health Coalition (CHC) released a statement expressing "{deep} disappointment" and condemnation that the Ford administration did not listen to the "broad consensus" of public health officials.  

Officials at Ontario's children's hospitals including Sick Kids in Toronto and CHEO in Ottawa had previously called on the Ford government to reopen schools as soon as possible, citing the effects on children's wellbeing. The statement released in April says, "We are calling on the government to recognize the hardship kids and families will face and do everything in their power to re-open schools where they have closed as soon as possible and save the school year."

In the updated statement on the fact that schools will remain closed the CHC says that "children and youth have not been a priority in the province's pandemic response" and says the decision will impact children's "learning, development, physical and mental health not only now but for years to come."

The CHC says that the fact "Ontario's children have been out of school longer than any other province in Canada" and that children have only been in school for five out of the last fifteen months is devastating for all involved.