From the Provincial Office of OSSTF
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
BILL 176, WALK TO WORK DAY ACT
NDP MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto—Danforth) introduced this bill that would proclaim the first Friday in May as Walk to Work Day.
BILL 177, STRONGER, FAIRER ONTARIO ACT (BUDGET MEASURES)
Finance Minister Charles Sousa’s (Mississauga South) Fall Economic Statement was tabled with Bill 177, Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures).
In his address, Sousa outlined that the budget will remain balanced through the 2019–2020 fiscal year. The most anticipated part of Sousa’s remarks were related to the perceived negative impact of a pending increased minimum wage on small businesses. To allay those concerns, Sousa proposed that the Corporate Income Tax, on businesses with less than $15 million in capital, would drop from 4.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
As per the recommendation of the French-language Services Commissioner, Sousa’s bill will also transfer the governance of the Centre Jules-Léger Provincial School and Demonstration School to the Centre Jules-Léger Consortium. Under the proposed amendments to the Education Act, the new CJL Consortium will consist of the 12 French-language school boards working together. Currently the teachers working at this location are OSSTF/FEESO members. The legislation proposes to make them part of AEFO, the French-language education workers’ union.
In another education matter in the bill, Sousa said, that in the spirit of reconciliation, “I am pleased to announce that we will be introducing legislation that will recognize Indigenous institutes as a third pillar of our post-secondary education system …Creating a new pathway for Indigenous people and students so that they may earn a diploma, certificate or degree. We will continue the journey of reconciliation to bring meaningful change to Indigenous peoples and communities.”
Sousa’s bill also makes an amendment to the Family Law Act that would allow single parents of adults with disabilities to continue receiving child support after a child reaches their 18th birthday.
Other measures in the bill will also affect the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act in relation to mental and chronic illnesses.
In response to Sousa’s speech, the Progressive Conservatives said that they would delay the full implementation of the $15 minimum for another three years, until 2022. Meanwhile, the NDP complained that Sousa did not address high hydro bills, hospital underfunding and school infrastructure repairs.
BILL 178, COLLEGES OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY LABOUR DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT
The Minister of Labour, Kevin Flynn (Oakville), introduced this back-to-work legislation to end the college faculty strike in Ontario’s 24 colleges. The five-week strike culminated with the striking faculty voting 86 per cent against the College Employer Council’s last offer. Faced with a continued strike that could further imperil her prospects for re-election, Premier Kathleen Wynne ordered legislation to end the strike. Despite not getting unanimous consent from the NDP to fast-track the bill within one day, Wynne was still able to get the bill passed by the end of the weekend. In response, colleges have indicated that classes will resume on Tuesday.
BILLS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
BILL 120, MANDATORY SEXUAL ASSAULT LAW TRAINING FOR JUDICIAL OFFICERS ACT
PC MPP Laurie Scott’s (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock) bill would require judges to receive sexual assault training. Her bill passed by voice vote and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.
BILLS PASSED
BILL 178, COLLEGES OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY LABOUR DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT
Please see above.
EDUCATION NEWS
DOLLY PARTON LITERACY CHARITY
The Ministry of Education announced $500,000 in funding for Dolly Parton’s literacy charity which will create “Imagination Libraries” with free books for children living on First Nations reserves. So far, thirty-six First Nations, with 753 children, have enrolled in the project.
ACTION DEMANDED TO REPAIR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE
At a Queen’s Park Conference hosted by the Campaign for Public Education and Fix Our Schools organizations, labour economist Hugh MacKenzie outlined the severe $15.9 billion backlog in school repairs and directly pointed at the funding formula as a major contributor to the backlog. As part of the continued effort on this issue, the Campaign for Public Education and Fix our Schools are calling on provincial candidates in the 2018 election to make a pledge for an Ontario-wide “State of Good Repair Standard” for school buildings.