Ontario Teachers' Federation

History

OTF was established by the Teaching Profession Act of 1944.

In 1997, the organization saw thousands of teachers and supporters on the front lawn of the Ontario Legislature in Toronto for a strike.

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan lost $19 billion in 2008.

Between 2008 and 2009, net assets fell to $87.4 billion from $108.5 billion.

In May 2016, CBC reported that the Ontario government since 2000 had given "$80.5 million to teachers' unions and the Ontario Teachers' Federation," after Ontario's auditor general performed an investigation.

In 2018, there were five teachers' unions that comprised the Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF), at which point it was described as a union representing around 160,000 public school teachers.

In 2020, it invested in the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. In December 2020, it invested in Società Gasdotti Italia S.P.A., acquiring a controlling stake. In 2021, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan increased its stake in the Scotia Gas Networks (SGN). At the time, the OTPP was Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with around $200 billion in assets it managed. In January 2022, the OTF came to an agreement with education minister Stephen Leccee to allow retired teachers to be re-employed for 95 days instead of 50, to help deal with returning to school.

In January 2022, the OTF came to an agreement with education minister Stephen Leccee to temporarily allow retired teachers to be re-employed for 95 days instead of 50, to help deal with returning to school.

Presidents

• Eileen Lennon
• Joe Lamoureux — 2009
• Chris Cowley — 2017
• Diane Dewing — 2018
• Parker Robinson — 2020-2021
• Chris Cowley — 2021-2022
• Nathan Core — 2022-2023
• Yves Durocher — 2023-2024

Overview

OTF is a member of the Canadian Teachers' Federation and Education International.

OTF's mandate is to advocate for teachers, the teaching profession, and publicly funded education. It represents the interests of all teachers who are pension plan members - active and retired - as the Partner with the Ontario Government in sponsoring the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). Moreover, as the official liaison between teachers and the Minister of Education, OTF provides advice and input to both the Minister and the Ministry about policy decisions related to matters such as curriculum, assessment, instructional technology, special education, among others. It amplifies teachers' voices with political parties, parents, and the public.

OTF offers a variety of services and supports for teachers. It supports learning and networking among the Subject and Division Associations through the OTF Curriculum Forum. OTF provides professional learning opportunities and online teaching resources for its members in areas such as financial literacy, safe and inclusive schools, special education, and working with parents, to name a few. OTF also provides supports for teacher candidates and beginning teachers.

OTF works with allies in the labour movement, partners in education, and like-minded social justice groups. OTF also supports numerous charitable organizations and groups dedicated to social justice and equity such as Frontier College, Indspire, Summer Literacy Camps, and CIVIX. As well, OTF provides financial assistance to underserved schools through its international assistance program.

References

References

1. (February 21, 2021). "Why Ontario teachers went on a province-wide strike in 1997". CBC.
2. Daw, James. (April 3, 2009). "Teachers' pension plan loses $19 billion in 2008". [[The Toronto Star]].
3. (May 18, 2016). "Ontario government gave $22M to teachers' unions since 2000 with 'no strings attached': audit". CBC.
4. Bronski, Carl. (October 10, 2018). "The unions' suppression of the 1995-97 anti-Harris movement: Part 3—The 1997 Ontario teachers' strike".
5. Woodside, John. (August 5, 2021). "Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan bets big on U.K. gas network". [[National Observer (Canada).
6. McKenzie-Sutter, Holly. (January 10, 2022). "Ontario allowing retired teachers to work more days amid Omicron workforce pressures". CP24.
7. Rushowy, Kristin. (September 7, 2017). "Queen's Park Report card, curriculum changes on the way in Ontario". The Toronto Star.
8. (November 11, 2018). "Promised PC spending cuts loom large for Ontario educators at Toronto conference". CBC.
9. Ng, Jessica. (May 11, 2021). "Ontario teacher candidates say they've been left behind by new mandatory math test". CBC.
10. Dubinski, Kate. (March 12, 2021). "Ontario teachers call for end to standardized tests, at least during pandemic". CBC.
11. "Brantford teacher elected OTF President".
12. "Waterloo teacher elected OTF President".
13. (18 March 2024). "Proposal to boost number of days retired Ontario teachers can work in schools". The Globe and Mail.