Parent/Community Organization Template Letter
 
[Your group or organization Name]
[Address]
[City, ON, Postal Code]
[Date]

VIA EMAIL

Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Education
Ministry of Education
22nd Floor, Mowat Block
900 Bay St.
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2
minister.edu@ontario.ca

RE: Opposing Bill 33 and the Removal of Elected School Board Trustees
From: [Your Organization Name] 
Dear Minister Calandra,
We, the [Your Organization Name], are writing to express our strong opposition to Bill 33, the Education Accountability Act, 2024, and the recent removal of local decision-making powers from elected trustees at the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB).
As a [type of organization eg. volunteer-run, parent-led] organization committed to supporting the education and well-being of all students in our school community, we are deeply concerned about the direction these actions are taking Ontario’s public education system.

Bill 33 Undermines Parent and Community Voice
[Statement on your mission and vision. Eg. We exist to foster collaboration between families, educators, and school staff, and to strengthen the connection between home and school. We believe in democratic, community-based decision-making that respects the voices of parents, caregivers, and students.]
Elected school board trustees are our direct link to the education system. They are accountable to the public, represent the interests of families, and play a critical role in ensuring transparency and responsiveness in school board governance.
Bill 33 threatens to override this essential local governance by granting the Ministry of Education sweeping authority to take control of school boards, bypassing trustees without due process or public accountability. The removal of decision-making from TVDSB trustees and the restriction of public access to board meetings are clear examples of a troubling erosion of democratic oversight and community trust.
Our Organization Calls for Action
Our members have passed a motion to:
1.	Oppose Bill 33, which threatens democratic school governance and silences community voices;
2.	Reject the removal or restriction of elected trustees who represent families and advocate for students;
3.	Call for a collaborative, community-centered approach to improving education, rather than one that imposes top-down control;
4.	Demand stable, equitable, and inflation-adjusted public education funding to meet the real needs of students, schools, and families.

We Urge Your Government to:
●	Withdraw Bill 33 and commit to a transparent, public consultation process involving families, trustees, educators, and communities;
●	Restore and respect the role of elected school board trustees as essential partners in education;
●	Focus on real supports for students, including investments in Special Education, mental health, inclusive classrooms, and smaller class sizes;
●	Ensure equitable funding across all schools to reduce systemic disparities and eliminate the reliance on private fundraising.

We are proud to serve as partners in education and advocates for the success and well-being of all children. Our school communities are stronger when parents and caregivers are respected, local voices are heard, and decisions are made with — not for — the people most impacted.
We respectfully urge you to reject Bill 33, restore democratic governance in school boards, and recommit to working in partnership with the communities you serve.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
President, [Your Organization Name] 
On behalf of the [Your Organization Name] 

cc:
Premier Doug Ford - premier@ontario.ca
Chandra Pasma, MPP (NDP), Official Opposition Critic, Education - cpasma-qp@ndp.on.ca
John Fraser, MPP (Liberal), Critic, Education - jfraser.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Terence Kernaghan, MPP London North Centre (NDP) - tkernaghan-co@ndp.on.ca
Peggy Sattler, MPP London West (NDP) - psattler-co@ndp.on.ca
Teresa J. Armstrong, MPP London—Fanshawe (NDP) - tarmstrong-co@ndp.on.ca
Rob Flack, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London (PC) - rob.flack@pc.ola.org
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford (PC) - ernie.hardeman@pc.ola.org
Steve Pinsonneault, MPP Lambton-Kent-Middlesex(PC) - steve.pinsonneault@pc.ola.org