Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment. Across Canada, schools continue to face shortages of Educational Assistants (EAs), Child and Youth Workers (CYWs), Behaviour Specialists, Early Childhood Educators (ECEs), and other educational support staff. As student needs continue to grow, many children are not receiving the individualized support they need to fully participate in their education.

Educational support staff are essential members of every school community. They provide behavioural, academic, communication, mobility, and personal support that enables students with disabilities and diverse learning needs to succeed alongside their peers. Without sufficient staffing, educators face increasing demands, students lose valuable learning opportunities, and inclusive education becomes more difficult to achieve.

Recent reports from across Canada continue to highlight shortages of educational support staff and growing pressures on schools to meet increasingly complex student needs. These challenges demonstrate the need for stronger investment in education and student support services.

We call on the Government of Canada to increase federal investment in education by providing dedicated funding to provinces and territories to recruit, hire, and retain qualified educational support staff. Working together with provincial and territorial governments, the federal government can help strengthen inclusive education and ensure that every student has equitable access to the support they need.

Investing in educational support staff is an investment in Canada's children, families, educators, and future.

Sign this petition today and join us in calling on the Government of Canada to invest in stronger support services, more inclusive classrooms, and better educational outcomes for every student.