Trudeau Wades Into Ontario School Strike Debate
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has weighed in on the issue of the Ontario government’s plan to use back-to-work legislation and the notwithstanding clause to stop a pending school strike.
“Using the notwithstanding clause to suspend worker’s rights is wrong,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Nov. 1.
“Suspensions of people’s rights is something you should only do in the most exceptional circumstances,” said Trudeau, adding that governments should not “overuse” the notwithstanding clause, which would allow the province to override sections of the Charter for five years to stop the strike.
CUPE handed in the required five-day strike notice on Oct. 30. Ontario responded the next day with a proposed bill to force a four-year contract on education support staff threatening to walk off the job as of Nov. 4….