Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff says no one is going to be forced to go back to school this fall.
He says its ultimately up to the parents, but he also says the province's back to school plan was created with the best medical advice available.
"It's been created in consultation with educators, labour partners and people across the province including parents. It really does provide a great deal of safety and support for our students as their coming back with very stringent and strict safety protocols."
The plan includes mandatory masks for students in Grades 4 to 12 and students cohorting into groups of 15.
Elementary schools will reopen five days per week and secondary students will alternate between online and in person classes.
Oosterhoff says the province is investing a lot of money to ensure the safety of students and staff members.
"We're always taking the best advice from our Chief Medical Officer to ensure that students are kept safe. This includes $60 million for procuring medical masks for all staff and $30 million to help keep classes small by being able to hire EAs and others."
He says the Ford Government is also setting aside $73 million for spot testing in secondary schools and $75 million for additional medical supplies.
Oosterhoff says the province is looking to hire 500 new school nurses and 1,200 new custodians to support health and sanitation.
Oosterhoff is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education.
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