Dates re: Bill 160

Summary of Important Dates re: Bill 160

Pre Strike Developments:

February 18, 1997 - The Ontario Teachers' Federation showed their concern over Bill 104, claiming it will not save money, and that the government has shown no evidence that Bill 104 will save the province any money.

April 24, 1997 - Bill 104, The Fewer School Boards Act, 1997, (legislation which reduces the number of school boards in Ontario) received Royal Assent. It permitted the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations establishing district school boards and provided a method for determining the numbers of members of each board. In addition, the Education Improvement Commission was established to oversee the transition to the new system of governance and the 1997 trustee election process. Bill 104 was the first step in the government's plan to improve the education system in Ontario.

August 11, 1997 - Jeff Holmes, President of the Ontario Public School Teachers' Federation (OPSTF) said "teachers are prepared to strike". The Ontario Public School Teachers' Federation represents 32,000 members and is an affiliate of the Ontario Teachers' Federation.

September 22, 1997 - The Minister of Education and Training John Snobelen, introduced Bill 160: The Education Quality Improvement Act, 1997, legislation to amend the Education Act of Ontario.

September 24, 1997 - Education and Training Minister John Snobelen announced further details for education reform based on recommendations contained in the Education Improvement Commission's report, The Road Ahead.

September 29 & 30, 1997 - Second reading of Bill 160 debated.

October 6, 1997 - More than 24,000 teachers, students and parents packed Maple Leaf Gardens for a rally. Eileen Lennon, president of the 126,000 member Ontario Teachers' Federation denounced Bill 160, and made it clear that teachers won't back down. Teachers elsewhere in the province also held rallies. Ontario teachers stepped up their public relations campaign against John Snobelen. A television ad which cost $150,000 to produce began airing on television. A $340,000 newspaper and radio campaign began late in September. The education ministry launched a $1,000,000 campaign of its own.

October 7, 1997 - Bill 160 passed second reading in the Ontario Legislature (Queen's Park)

October 8, 1997 - Teachers meet with the Government, but no progress is made

October 10, 1997 - Premier Mike Harris reorganized his cabinet, replacing John Snobelen as Minister of Education and Training with (David Johnson). Other cabinet moves were also made. (New Cabinet)

October 15, 1997 - The 126,000-member Ontario Teachers' Federation gave Queen's Park a two week deadline. If the problem is not settled, teachers plan to go on an illegal strike no later then October 29.

October 17, 1997 - Seven Etobicoke high schools held their own referendum on Bill 160. Of the 5,640 ballots counted at the time, 5,256 students (93 per cent) voted against Bill 160. Voting was organized by the students.

October 20, 1997 - Teachers met with new Minister of Education and Training (David Johnson). Both sides were miles apart, and talks broke down. Teachers set a deadline (noon on October 21) for the government to start meaningful negotiations with them, or they will set a strike date. Teachers' unions claim they will give 48 hours notice before walking off the job. Public hearings into Bill 160: The Education Quality Improvement Act, began in Toronto.

October 21, 1997 - Further talks between teachers and the government collapsed again after four hours. The noon deadline passed without an announcement from the Ontario Teachers' Federation. The teacher federation leaders met in the afternoon and early evening, and discussed their plans. Eileen Lennon president of the Ontario Teachers' Federation announced that she would make an announcement at 10:00 AM on Wednesday October 22, 1997.

October 22, 1997 - At 10:00 AM EST Eileen Lennon president of the Ontario Teachers' Federation announced a strike date of Monday October 27. Any work action taken by teachers would be illegal, and it has been decided that if nothing is solved before Monday, the teachers will go on strike, and the schools will be likely shut down. Teachers understand their work action will hurt students, but they feel it is necessary. Ms. Lennon said that "teachers will stay out as long as it takes", and that she is prepared to sit down with the Education and Training Minister David Johnson to have meaningful talks. Education Minister David Johnson announced the government will take additional steps to protect the interests of children and families affected by an illegal teachersā strike. Measures include funds to offset child care costs and legislation supportive to parents who must be absent from work to care for children missing school. If the proposed legislation passes, families with students 13 years of age and under would be eligible. Families with special needs students age 14 and over and enrolled in a publicly funded school, who require special supervision would also be eligible. In addition, families whose children would normally attend a child-care centre operated in a publicly funded school facility and who are prevented from doing so because of an illegal strike would be eligible. At 6:50 PM Premier Mike Harris addressed the province on television (Transcript of Speech). He urged the teachers to ignore the federation's call for a strike on October 27, and to carefully think about what they are doing. He spent most of the time defending the government's insistence on reforming the education system.

October 23, 1997 - Education and Training Minister David Johnson acknowledged that the government plans to take at least $500-million out of the education system, confirming what many had already believed. He also warned teachers who participate in a strike that they would be subject to fines of up to $1,000 per day, however he offered to modify Bill 160 to meet some of the teachers' objections. Teachers called a news conference in the evening to complain that the government was stalling. They felt the government's negotiating team had come to an early-evening meeting with nothing new, despite the Minister of Education's offer.

October 25, 1997 - Education Minister Dave Johnson announced that both sides agreed to have former Ontario Chief Justice Charles Dubin as a facilitator for the negotiations on Bill 160. He was involved in the high profile Ben Johnson inquiry, and has helped resolve conflicts for the government before.

October 26, 1997 - Under the instructions of the new facilitator Charles Dubin, both parties (the teachers and government) agreed to a news blackout. Talks continued throughout the day but broke off in the evening with out an agreement. At 9:30 PM EST Eileen Lennon, president of the Ontario Teachers' Federation announced that no agreement had been reached, and that the strike would commence Monday morning, as planned. Negotiator Charles Dubin expressed disappointment after failing to get Ontario's teachers and the government to reach a compromise.

Strike Developments:

Day 1: Monday October 27, 1997 - Picket lines were set up around schools in cold weather as early a 6:00 AM, beginning the largest teachers' strike ever in North America. The walkouts affect 2,116,000 students in 4,742 schools throughout the province. Most schools were closed, but some day care centres in schools were able to stay open. 24 of 80 school boards have ordered their schools closed. The Peel Region board which tried to keep its schools open were forced to close when only 55 of its 103,000 students showed up. While teachers rallied outside Queen's Park, Mike Harris was announcing his plans to try to end the strike by getting a court injunction. An injunction would be backed by fines and possibly jail sentences for disobeying it, or for urging others to disobey it. President of the Ontario Teachers' Federation Eileen Lennon said the federation leaders would wait to see any injunction before deciding whether to disobey it, and that the federations could fight the government's attempt to obtain a back-to-work order. In the evening launched a new television advertisement featuring Mike Harris saying he's against the strike because "we live in a law-abiding society where breaking the law is not the right example."

Day 2: Tuesday October 28, 1997 - Teachers remained on strike picketing schools on the second day of their job action. The walkout started to have a ripple effect. More than 1,300 cafeteria employees were laid off. The largest school bus operator in Ontario, Laidlaw Transit, taking 5,500 buses out of the fleet, and leaving their drivers unpaid, and at home. Schools remained closed for a second day, though some remained open for day care. In response to the government's threat to get a court injunction, OTF president Eileen Lennon said the action would be "a very serious step for the government to take. This is a political protest about an issue teachers feel strongly about. It is not a decision that is taken easily. --- Parents and the public see that as picking on teachers. They don't see it as democracy in progress. They see it as bullying." She also said that the federations have been looking at ways to end the strike, but she did not share any of their strategies. Minister of Education and Training David Johnson said the province had assembled the evidence it thinks it needs to persuade a judge that an injunction should be granted on the grounds that the teacher's job action is causing irreparable harm to students, parents, the education system, and the province. Parents, teachers and students denounced the bill in Ottawa, as public hearings on Bill 160 ended.

Day 3: Wednesday October 29, 1997 - The strike continued into its third day. In the morning the government presented their evidence to the court in hopes of a court injunction which could end the province wide teacher strike. A court date has been set for Friday October 31. Government lawyers will argue under the Courts of Justice Act that the illegal strike is causing ``irreparable harm'' to students, families and businesses. The government motion includes an affidavit from an education ministry employee, Maurice Poirier, who says the strike is causing ``serious interference'' with school operations and ``significant public inconvenience.'' He also says employers are being hurt by workers taking time off to watch their children. If the injunction fails, the government is expected to recall the Legislature and push through back-to-work legislation. But the Liberals and New Democrats have said they'd oppose such a move, meaning the process could take two weeks. Earl Manners, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, refused to say what he'll tell his members to do if the government's application succeeds. Marshall Jarvis, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, said he'd likely advise members to honour an injunction. President of the Ontario Teachers' Federation Eileen Lennon said that, even if teachers are forced by an injunction to go back to class, their complaints about Bill 160 won't stop. Education and Training Minister David Johnson said it continues to be a ``great disappointment'' that the teachers' unions have said nothing constructive in two weeks and simply want Bill 160 gutted. Teachers and their union leaders could be subject to fines or imprisonment if they defy a court injunction ordering them back to work. In the afternoon a rally was held at the Mowat Block, which is the Ministry of Education building in Toronto (Bay and Wellesley). Mostly teachers, but some students, and parents were there protesting Bill 160. There were some students who were protesting against the teachers, and got into a shouting match with them.

Day 4: Thursday October 30, 1997 - The strike continued into its fourth day. Three teachers in Pickering were injured in a freak accident, when a car struck them while they were protesting on the median of a road. They were rushed to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Ontario government and the Ontario Teachers' Federation put out new proposals. Education and Training Minister Dave Johnson offered to enshrine in legislation the maximum average class size and the amount of time teachers will spend together in the classroom. He also proposed that non-certified teachers would only be used to compliment, and not replace certified teachers. Johnson also wanted to remove principals and vice-principals from the teachers' federations. Eileen Lennon President of the Ontario Teachers' Federation gave a proposal which was substantially softer than what they had been demanding before, but the last minute proposals by both parties failed to bring a conclusion to the dispute. In the word of Ms. Lennon: "I'm disappointed and angry". She was noticeably annoyed by Mr. Johnson's proposals, and called them counterproductive. Sid Ryan, Ontario president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees is calling for a general strike to shut down every unionized workplace in the province as the government prepares to head to court to end the teachers' strike. Ryan said he has called for a meeting Monday with the Ontario Federation of Labour to pick a strike date to back a "fight that is all of our fight."

Day 5: Friday October 31, 1997 - Lawyers representing the Government and the Teachers' Federations went to court. The government is seeking a back-to-work order from Mr. Justice James MacPherson. At the court hearing, Judge MacPherson suggested that the application for an injunction may be premature, but at another point it seemed he agreed with a government lawyer that a return to work would have little impact on the teachers' ability to protest Bill 160. Province-wide polling has showed high levels of concern among parents over the government's plan to reduce spending on the education system. Meanwhile the strike continues for a fifth day, and teachers continue to walk the picket lines.

Day 6: Saturday November 1, 1997 - In the early morning hours a a bottle of antifreeze was placed on the gas pedal of a stolen car, and sent hurling into a North York school, crashing inside, and going a blaze, causing thousands of dollars of damage. Police have no suspects, and doubt that the incident has anything to do with the strike, but it may have been caused by bored students. The court battle continued as lawyers for the unions presented their case. After hearing the arguments of both sides Justice James MacPherson said "I have not made up my mind", and urged the two sides to talk. The judge said "someone is going to win completely and someone is going to lose completely on Monday morning. It's sad that two great institutions - government in a democratic society and teachers who are crucial parts of the system - have been unable to resolve (their differences). That rarely happens in Ontario. It really is sad that this is the state of affairs and I want you to tell that to your clients." "Is there any chance your clients can get together in the next day or two and take a serious run at trying to settle this?", he asked both sides, "I'm prepared to hold off, not say a word, if people were negotiating with a view towards settling this.'' If no progress towards a settlement is made Judge MacPherson will make his ruling at 10 AM Monday morning.

Day 7: Sunday November 2, 1997 - Teachers and the government met in a secret location after Judge MacPherson urged them to give talks one more chance and end the conflict. Progress on the talks has been made unavailable due to a news blackout.

Day 8: Monday November 3, 1997 - Mr. Justice James MacPherson denied the government's plea for an injunction which would have ordered teachers back to work. In his ruling he stated that irreparable harm had not yet been caused, and he suggested that the issue be taken to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. "There is no direct evidence of any actual harm to any student,'' he said. "There is no direct evidence of any actual harm to any parent. There is no evidence of any harm to school boards - the employers." The judge cited decisions by the Education Relations Commission, which rules during legal teachers' strikes on when back-to-work legislation is appropriate. In 13 decisions since 1975, the commission concluded the school year was in jeopardy anywhere from 27 to 73 days into a teacher walkout. The judge called teachers "typically law-abiding people . . . deeply committed to the education of their students." He then went on to say "they made their decision in a careful, concerned and reluctant fashion. Moreover, there is not a hint of mocking or jeering in their conduct since the strike began. It has been remarkably peaceful, especially in light of the fact that approximately 126,000 teachers are involved. I confess that I'm uneasy about a teachers' strike continuing for a long period of time. I am concerned about the ill will and distrust between the government and the teachers that may well be the residue from a protracted strike. Some wounds never heal no matter how happy a face you try to put on it." President of the OTF Eileen Lennon called Judge MacPherson's decision a "moral victory" for teachers. She said "the judgement recognized that they were not engaged in a frivolous, self-serving action. That makes every teacher in this province feel a bit better." Upon hearing this the Education Minister (Dave Johnson) said "I'm wondering how the unions call this a moral victory when parents continue to be inconvenienced, society continues to be disrupted, when our young people are not getting an education. Is that what the unions consider to be a moral victory?"

Day 9: Tuesday November 4, 1997 - Another attempt at talks between the Ontario government and the province's teachers collapsed again in the evening. These were the first head to head talks between the federation leaders and the Minister of Education since October 21st. During the talks teachers tabled several proposals, which they believed would help resolve this dispute, but the government rejected them. (Teachers' Proposals) Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove offered some financial relief in the form of interest-free loans to the teacher federations so they can help members in financial distress.

Day 10: Wednesday November 5, 1997 - Federation leaders met and considered a voluntary return to work, and alternate ways to protest Bill 160. Education Minister Dave Johnson introduced more amendments to the bill, by adding more days in school for students. Johnson's amendments would increase the number of days for high school students by ten, by reducing the number of days for exams from ten to fifteen and by cutting professional development days to five from ten. Five extra days would be added to the elementary school year by reducing the number of professional development days. Johnson told reporters "I hope that the union leaders may come to the conclusion that, upon seeing these amendments, that they may be able to get back into the classroom, that they may continue consultation with the government." Publicly, the heads of the five federations under the Ontario Teachers' Federation said they had decided to continue the strike because many teachers encouraged them to continue the fight against the government, however privately the federations were split. Affiliates representing elementary teachers believed teachers won the public relations battle, and that could capitalize on public support for their fight by sending teachers back to the classroom.

Day 11: Thursday November 6, 1997 - Federations representing more than half of Ontario's 126,000 striking teachers announced Thursday their members will return to class, but insisted the move doesn't mean the government won. The three federations said the 79,000 teachers they represent will be back at work Monday, exactly two weeks after they began the walkout in protest against a proposed overhaul of the school system. It means relief for thousands of parents forced to find alternative care for their children, but it strikes a cleft in the coalition of teachers unions that had fought the government, vowing repeatedly: "We won't back down." Members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, and the English Catholic Teachers Association remain on strike, and plan to evaluate their positions over the weekend. Maret Sadem-Thompson, head of the Federation of Women Teachers' Associations of Ontario told reporters "Make no mistake -- we are not giving up. Together, teachers, parents and the public will continue the fight at the legislature, in our communities, in the media, until the quality of public education in this province is guaranteed."

Day 12: Friday November 7, 1997 - Elementary school teachers spent their final day on the line. Teachers left out on the picket line were "stunned and devastated" as they digested the news their numbers were dwindling. "The (union) split shocked and surprised us. Some of us feel betrayed," said Klaas Walma, head of chemistry at Harbord Collegiate, who won't know until tomorrow whether his high school union will call off the strike. "Some of us feel betrayed. "Ontario Education Minister Dave Johnson needed an eight-man police escort to get past militant members of the OSSTF who were blocking the driveway of a Bell Canada building yesterday. "Sic him, sic him!" screamed members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association and Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. "We want to piss off everyone we can," said the union video cameraman. They were protesting Bill 160. Johnson, who arrived alone in his private car, was later followed to his vehicle when he tried to leave, videotaped and verbally harassed before being forced to seek refuge in the building. "I hope you will allow me to go," Johnson told union activist Bill Doyle, who tailed the minister to his car. Doyle refused to budge, causing Johnson to retreat to the Bell warehouse.

Day 13: Saturday November 8, 1997 - The fourth of five teachers' federations decided to call of their strike. Roman Catholic teachers will go back to their classrooms, claiming a moral victory and vowing to continue their struggle. The decision leaves only Ontario Secondary School teachers on strike. Teachers along with labour groups held a massive rally at Queen's Park.

Day 14: Sunday November 9, 1997 - Toronto's Public school elementary teachers held their own vote to decide whether to defy their leaders and stay out of the classroom. The unanimously decided to return to class. In the afternoon Earl Manners, head of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation announced that Secondary School teachers would also be returning to class on Monday, ending the two week strike. Manners said his federation will join others in a constitutional court challenge. "The protest is going to continue, but in another form. Let me assure you that (the government) will get no co-operation from teachers and education workers to implement Bill 160 in any area that impacts negatively on our students or on public education.'' said Earl Manners. Minister of Education and Training Dave Johnson was excited by the news, but he asked school boards to make sure that lost time was made up by eliminating professional activity days.

Post Strike Developments

Monday November 10, 1997 - Ontario's Teachers returned to work, ending a two week walkout. Separate school teachers in York Region remain on an unrelated legal strike over contractual problems.

Thursday November 13, 1997 - Education and Training Minister David Johnson requested that school boards and teachers revise the school year to minimize any loss of class time for students. ćDuring the recent province-wide withdrawal of services, students across the province lost up to ten days of classroom instruction,ä Johnson said, ćI am now requesting each board to prepare and submit a revised school calendar that would ensure that Ontarioās students continue to have the opportunity to learn the complete assigned curriculum.ä Under the Education Act, Boards, with prior ministry approval, can revise their current school calendars. The boards are requested to submit their revised calendars to the Education Ministry by December 1, 1997.

Friday November 14, 1997 - Four Ontario teachers began a "sit in", in the office of Minister of Education and Training Dave Johnson at the Education Ministry in Toronto. Security guards did not allow them to use the bathroom facilities, or get food and drinks from the outside.

Monday November 17, 1997 - The legislature reopened after a long break. Members of the opposition party and the NDP spent the day criticizing the conduct of the Conservative Party in the dispute. Some substitute teachers have joined in the "sit in" at Dave Johnson's office. Also, teachers along with concerned parents protested in the afternoon hours at Queen's Park. Dozens of rallies were held across the province as parents launched a green ribbon campaign against Bill 160. Bill 161, the Fairness for Parents and Employees Act was introduced in the legislature, as promised so parents may be reimbursed for day care costs during the strike.

Tuesday November 18, 1997 - A few dozen students were ejected from the Legislature when they sang songs and shouted anti-government slogans, disrupting afternoon question period. The outburst prompted Speaker Chris Stockwell to call a 15-minute recess during which time he expressed concern to the three House leaders that opposition MPPs had cheered on the students' protest. Most opposition MPPs wore some form of green clothing to protest the bill. The move followed a ruling by Stockwell the previous day that green ribbons, now the symbol of the anti-Bill 160 movement, were not allowed on the floor of the Legislature. Cambridge science teacher Dwyer Sullivan, 60, who had been staging a sit-in in Education Minister Dave Johnson's 22nd-floor Mowat block office since November 14th, ended his protest. A legislative committee wrapped up voting on amendments to Bill 160, paving the way for its final passage as early as next week. The session was repeatedly interrupted by the ejection of spectators shouting down the bill. Fifteen people were arrested during a peaceful but vocal demonstration against the province's Bill 160 by about 1,500 teachers, parents and students outside a Tory fundraising dinner. The protest message was aimed at Education Minister Dave Johnson, who was speaking at the $100-a-plate dinner at a local hotel, along with local MPP Brenda Elliot. Most of those charged were students, police said. Two were charged with trespassing, one with obstructing justice and the others with disturbing the peace.

Wednesday November 19, 1997 - New Democrat MPPs stated they want a binding referendum on Bill 160, the government's controversial education bill. A Metro Toronto parents group is attempting to gather the signatures of 10 per cent of Ontario's eligible voters - about 700,000 people - in support of a referendum.

Monday November 24, 1997 - Speaker of Queen's Park Chris Stockwell warned that any future demonstrations in the public galleries over Bill 160 would force him to temporarily bar the public from watching proceedings from the gallery. "I don't want to see anyone injured for Bill 160", Stockwell said. During debate several wrapped green apples were delivered to Minister of Education and Training Dave Johnson, on behalf of the group who started the green ribbon campaign. When asked about the possibility of lost teaching jobs as a result of Bill 160 becoming law, Dave Johnson said "the school boards in the future will continue to determine the proper staffing for their schools, will determine how many teachers they need and what their staffing complement should be".

Thursday November 27, 1997 - Third reading of Bill 160 was debated. Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty forced the government yesterday to delay final passage of Bill 160. McGuinty used legislative rules to block the final vote on the controversial education law at least until Monday. "This is a good opportunity for the government to become a chamber of sober second thought. There's no need to have this rushed in," McGuinty said. Both McGuinty and NDP leader Howard Hampton vowed to kill Bill 160 if they form the next government. Bill 168, The Bill 160 Repeal Act was introduced by NDP Leader Mr. Howard Hampton, and recieved first reading.

Monday December 1, 1997 - Bill 160 passed third and final reading and is now set to become law. It was passed with a vote of 81-48. A handful of dissenting teachers and students were removed from the legislature when their heckling prompted the Speaker to clear the public galleries. Outside, a few dozen people denounced the government in a demonstration that paled next to several that saw 25,000 march on Queen's Park during the protest's emotional peak.

Wednesday December 3, 1997 - Bill 161, legislation to reimburse parents for costs during the strike has passed third reading in the legislature and has become law.

Friday December 5, 1997 - Labour Minister Jim Flaherty announced that application forms are now available for the special payment to parents and guardians whose families were disrupted by the two-week province-wide strike by Ontario teachers. The deadline for submitting applications is January 16, 1998.

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