Ontario introduced unprecedented back-to-work legislation on Monday, aiming to impose a four-year contract on school support workers. The government is using the notwithstanding clause to prevent any legal challenges.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce walks the halls of Queen’s Parks and answers questions from the media in the Ontario Legislature.
The bill sets out fines for striking workers and the union itself. Individuals face a fine of up to $4,000 per day, while CUPE faces a daily fine of up to $500,000. The union said it'll be paying the fines for any of its 55,000 workers. On Sunday, CUPE gave notice of intention to strike, which started the five-day countdown to when they'd be in a legal position to strike. This legislation, however, makes that null and void by making a strike illegal.
University of Saskatchewan political science professor Charles Smith said it'll be interesting to see how the other unions support CUPE — potentially with protest strikes, job action, picketing or financial support. Prior to Ford, no Ontario government had ever used the notwithstanding clause. The PCs' first use of the constitution-overriding clause was in its 2018 bill reorganizing Toronto's city council. Its second usage was reworking Ontario'sThe 2018 occasion didn't require the clause because the government ultimately didn't need to pass it once they were granted a stay.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association called the Ford government's use of the notwithstanding clause a"flagrant disregard for individual rights," which it said is"dangerous to our constitutional democracy."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Back-to-work legislation an 'outrageous assault' on workers, union saysOntario teachers’ unions are speaking out after the Progressive Conservative government decided to use the notwithstanding clause to force a contract onto education support workers.
Read more »
What is the notwithstanding clause? An explainer on the rarely used provisionThe Ontario government says it intends to invoke the notwithstanding clause to keep an eventual law affecting some education workers in force in the event of any constitutional challenges.
Read more »
What is the notwithstanding clause? An explainer on the rarely used provisionThe Ontario government says it intends to invoke the notwithstanding clause to keep an eventual law affecting some education workers in force in the event of any constitutional challenges.
Read more »
Ontario to table legislation to prevent education worker strike: MinisterOntario's education minister intends to introduce legislation Monday that will avert a looming support staff strike and impose a contract on them, a proposition the union said it is prepared to fight.
Read more »
Ontario to pre-emptively legislate education workers staff back to workTORONTO — Ontario’s education minister intends to introduce legislation Monday that will avert a looming support staff strike and impose a contract on them, a…
Read more »
Ontario to introduce education contract to avert looming support staff strikeOntario\u0027s education minister is planning to introduce legislation today to avert a strike by support staff and impose a contract on them.
Read more »