Ontario won’t be thrown into an election because of an escalating dispute over teachers’ contracts, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Friday.
The Premier said a bill that would ban teacher strikes, freeze their wages and cut their sick days won’t be a confidence motion, meaning the government wouldn’t fall if it was defeated.
McGuinty said his government is just doing what is necessary.
“There’s just not the kind of money we used to have, it’s as simple as that,” he said while he toured his wife’s former Ottawa school.
Ontario’s opposition parties disagree and said the decision is purely a political one.
“They’re trying to paint the picture that there’s going to be a big strike come September and that classrooms will be disrupted, but there’s no evidence of that,” said NDP MP Gilles Bisson.
“I’ve never quite seen a masterful stroke of alienation quite like the Minister of Education has done,” said PC MP Lisa MacLeod of the government led by the so-called “Education Premier”.
At least one parent said she would like to see teachers be treated like an essential service.
“The teachers are as important as doctors and nurses and they’re not allowed to strike,” said Deborah Drew.
McGuinty said the bill, which would only be brought to the legislature if agreements can’t be reached with all teacher groups, would save $470 million and provide peace of mind.
“It’s about the confidence parents need to have,” he said. “Knowing schools will be open and teachers will be there.”
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Ellen Mauro
