Ontario ombudsman to probe Ministry of Education payments to students, parents

Ontario’s ombudsman says his office has launched an investigation into the province’s direct payment programs for students and parents.

Paul Dubé says there are concerns about a lack of fairness and transparency.

The Ministry of Education has given out six payments since 2020 under different programs to give parents financial support.

Dubé says his office has heard “disturbing” accounts from parents who were denied funding for their children.

He says some sole-custody parents and others with restraining orders against the other were denied funding because the other parent had claimed and received the payments.

“In a time of unprecedented need, our government provided direct financial relief to parents to support their children as they catch up on the basics of reading, writing and math,” the ministry said in a statement.

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A spokeswoman for Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the province is working with the ombudsman, but says the programs have helped support 1.8 million students.