Ontario to allow retired teachers to work more days amid ongoing Omicron-related staff shortages

RetiredOntarioeducators will be allowed to work moredays this school year as the province aims to address pandemic-related staff shortages before students return to in-class learning.

The government has not yet said whether students will return to classes in-person on Jan. 17 the soonest they might see an end tothe latest period of online learning, which began this month amidunprecedented levels of COVID-19 spread driven by the Omicron variant.

A written statement Monday from Education Minister Steven Lecce said the new agreement with theOntarioTeachers' Federations thatallows retirees to be re-employed for 95 days instead of 50 will help with the eventual return to in-person school.

"We need staff in order to continue providing live teacher-led remote learning and safely operate our schools when students returnto in-person learning," Lecce's statement read.

"That is why we have now secured an agreement with theOntarioTeachers' Federation that will deliver access to thousands of teacher-qualified educators that will help keep schools open and safe."

He noted in his written comment that school boards were affected by staff shortages even before the Omicron variant drove up absencerates.

95-day rule to be in effect until end of June

The highly infectious variant, which is spreading rapidly inOntario, is impacting workforces across many sectors including health andeducation. Premier Doug Ford referenced the inability to staff schools as a factor behind the decision to return to remote learningwhen he announced the temporary move this month.

TheOntarioTeachers' Federation addressed the agreement in a written statement on Dec. 31 more than a week before thegovernment announced the change noting that it "does not expectthat many retirees are interested in working in the current environment," but the change will allow them to work more days ifthey choose to do so.

The professional group representing teachers said in a subsequent statement that "more robust health and safety measures" includingsocial distancing, regular virus testing, smaller class sizes and "appropriate masks" for both staff and students "would also encourage new graduates and existing occasional teachers to make themselves available."

"This would strongly mitigate the need for additional retirees(average age of which is 72) to somehow fill any void, given thecurrent environment," the statement said.

Lecce hasn't spoken at a news conference in weeks

Chris Cowley, president of the group, said in an email on Monday that around 60 out of 142,000 retired members "have expressedinterest in increasing the 50-Day re-employment rule" since September.

The government said promised shipments of N95 masks for education and child care workers began this week to school boards and child care centres, to be completed "in the coming days."

A spokeswoman said Lecce was not available for an interview on Monday. The minister has not spoken at a news conference sincebefore the province announced the latest school closure on Jan. 3.

The province's written announcement on the retired teacher workforce came amid calls for greater transparency around actionstaken to improve school safety.

At a news conference following a meeting of opposition politicians and health sector representatives, critics expressed concerns over rising hospitalizations from COVID-19 and the lack of data on virus cases in schools and child-care centres. The government stopped publishing that information amid skyrocketing case numbers and reduced access to virus tests.

RNAO head laments 'aproblem that we created'

Ontarioreported 438 people in intensive care with COVID-19 as of Monday and 2,467 people hospitalized with the virus in total, thoughnot all hospitals report those figures from the weekend. The province reported 9,706 new COVID-19 cases, but Public HealthOntariohas noted that the actual number of cases is likely higher.

In addition to closing schools, the province has temporarily cancelled scheduled surgeries, ordered spaces like restaurants, gyms, theatres to close and placed capacity limits on retail stores and social gatherings in a bid to preserve hospital capacity.

Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, said in order to prioritize schools, the province shouldhave brought in more closures to rein in Omicron's spread. Since that has not happened, she said reopening schools "will exacerbate the situation" in hospitals.

"It's not about the kids. It about the system and what the system can cope (with)," she said, noting that schools could havebeen made safer earlier in the pandemic with mandatory vaccinationsfor teachers and access to N95 masks.

"It's a problem that we created," she said. "I don't think we can do it in seven days."