The Ontario ombudsman will be launching an investigation into the decision by Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government to provide direct payments to parents to support their child's education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation comes in response to complaints from parents who were denied payments because someone else had claimed the money first. Some parents discovered that a relative who was not caring for their child had claimed the money, and there was no way to recover it. The ombudsman aims to identify the root of the problem and recommend ways to make the program fair and transparent.
Since 2020, Ontario parents have received four versions of direct payments to support at-home education and tutoring for their children. The most recent round of funding was expected to cost approximately $225 million over two years. The Ministry of Education stated that about 2.2 million students benefited from these payments, which aimed to help children catch up on reading, writing, and math skills. The ministry will collaborate with the ombudsman's office during the investigation.