Mask mandates to not return in Ontario schools: education minister

Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, was in Oakville on Thursday to announce new spending and a new school for the town.

COVID-19 cases have spiked across Ontario and some hospitals have said more children are coming to the emergency room showing COVID-19 related symptoms. There are growing calls to make masks mandatory for students in schools to curb the spread of the virus.

Lecce doesn’t see mask mandates for students coming back, “we obviously believe as a government that parents will make that choice and we want to respect the decisions parents will make after two years of this pandemic.”

The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board said that masks are needed to combat unprecedented levels of staff absences that are impacting school operations.

Stephen Lecce said administrators are not doctors and said the province has taken steps to limit the spread.

CHCH News asked Hamilton public health about making masks a requirement and they denied our interview request saying they aren’t in a position to require mask use in school but they do recommend wearing one indoors.

Lecce also announced that they will spend $23.9 million for the Halton District School Board to build a new school in Northeast Oakville which is expected to open in 2025.