TORONTO -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, have decided to send their kids back to school, a few weeks after Trudeau admitted they were still grappling with the decision.
The Prime Ministerâs Office confirmed to ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ on Thursday that, for now, Trudeauâs three children have returned in-class learning. All of Trudeau's children attend public school in Ontario.
During a press conference in mid-August to announce the prorogation of Parliament, Trudeau said that his family was in the midst of âvery active discussionsâ on whether to return to school.
âI know that lots of parents are going to be watching carefully what their local school and school boardâs plans are going to be. And there is a lot of reflection in a lot of households, including mine, as to whatâs going to happen when September rolls around,â he said.
Trudeau added at the time that he has personal friends who are parents who were also working through the decision.
âWe are looking at what the schoolâs plans are, weâre looking at class sizes, weâre looking at how the kids are feeling about wearing masks,â he said.
Conservative Leader Erin OâToole and his wife also plan to send their two children back to school.
âI have a lot of confidence in our schools and the plans that are being made,â OâToole told CTVâs Your Morning on Tuesday.
OâToole added that isolation was âvery hardâ on children and that he thinks the best approach is for students to return to school with proper safety protocols in place.
âWe have mental wellness concerns if kids are secluded and not having that social interaction. So letâs do sanitation, letâs do proper distancing, letâs get it right, but we need to make sure kids are in school.â
Several provinces are still at odds with teachersâ unions about back-to-school plans, with advocates in Ontario and Alberta insisting that the provincial governments need to invest in smaller class sizes to keep students and teachers safe.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday, saying he would rather listen to doctors and epidemiologists than someone "with a degree in English literature who thinks he is a doctor.â
Last week, the federal government announced up to $2 billion in funding to help schools reopen safely.