Yasir Naqvi: Restoring the promise of public education in Ontario | Unpublished
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Ottawa, Ontario
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Yasir Naqvi is running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party in 2023.  A first generation Canadian, Yasir’s family arrived in Canada in 1988 after the Pakistani government imprisoned his father for leading a pro-democracy march. With an upbringing deeply rooted in the values of democracy, social justice and compassion, Yasir feels it is important to be involved in the community and give back. Yasir’s passion to serve his community resulted in being elected MPP in October 2007 and re-elected in 2011 and 2014. In 2013 he was appointed Minister of Labour where he raised the minimum wage, brought forward new protections for vulnerable workers and improved workplace safety measures. In 2014 he was appointed Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Government House Leader. As the MPP of a diverse, urban riding, Yasir has been a tireless advocate for public services and sustainable community growth. Working closely with the community, Yasir helped secure funding to build the Hintonburg Hub, an integrated health and social service centre in our community. He also worked to secure funding for the Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards, a new Broadview Public School and an expanded Carleton University library. Yasir is recognized by his peers as a strong community leader and involved resident of Ottawa Centre. He has sat on the Board of Directors of the Centretown Community Health Centre for four years and he has been the Co-Chair of the Capital Food Bank Blitz since 2005. Yasir is the proud father of Rafi Naqvi and husband to Christine McMillan.

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Yasir Naqvi: Restoring the promise of public education in Ontario

September 8, 2023
Picture of Castlemore Public School in Markham, Ontario

Yasir Naqvi releases practical, Liberal plan to fix public education and restore the promise of Ontario...

Ottawa, Sep 7—Ontario’s public education system used to be something parents, educators and kids believed in — until Premier Doug Ford got his hands on it.

From kindergarten to Grade 12, our kids are struggling in overcrowded classrooms that are too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Our apprenticeship programs are failing to retain students. And too many college and university grads are burdened with heavy student debt. The status quo under Ford is not good enough — not for students or teachers.

“Ontarians believe deeply in public education. It’s the foundation of the promise of Ontario,” said Yasir Naqvi, candidate for Ontario Liberal Party leader. “As I travel the province, I hear about parents who are squeezing every penny to pay for a tutor, about folks taking out second and third mortgages to afford private school for a child with special needs who’s being left behind in a public school classroom.”

“That’s not the Ontario I believe in, and I won’t stand by as Doug Ford sells out public education to creeping privatization,” Naqvi said. “I will rebuild our public education system so parents no longer feel to need to resort to private tutors and schools.” Nor will Yasir stand for Conservatives playing dangerous dog-whistle politics with our children and our schools.

“Nothing is more important than the safety and wellness of our children. Schools must be a safe and inclusive space focussed on learning,” said Naqvi. “Kids are not pawns, and politicians should not play political games with education policy and curriculum development in Ontario.”

A Yasir Naqvi-led government will challenge the status quo and focus on three key planks to fix public education and restore the promise of Ontario. Read the rest of the release in the pdf below. >