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Ontario politicians to debate back-to-work bill Saturday, Sunday

Rare weekend sitting aims to pass legislation forcing end to college strike
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Ontario politicians will be working through the weekend in an attempt to pass legislation to end the strike by college faculty across the province. (File)

Ontario politicians will be working through the weekend in an attempt to pass legislation to end the strike by college faculty across the province.

There was a special session Friday in the Ontario Legislature when the governing Liberals attempted to get unanimous consent from Opposition parties to pass back to work legislation.

While the Progressive Conservatives supported the move, as they had a similar attempt on Thursday, the New Democrats again refused to support the bill, forcing the rare weekend sitting  in the Legislature.

The bill would force 12,000 faculty members back to work, sending the remaining issues to arbitration. The strike began Oct. 16 and is now the longest colleges strike in Ontario history. Workers rejected the latest contract offer on Thursday by 87 per cent, with 95 per cent of faculty voting.

In a news release Friday, the New Democrats said they wouldn't make it easy for the Liberals to pass the bill, but expected it would pass by Sunday.  

“Kathleen Wynne can use her majority and pass a Conservative-style back-to-work bill this weekend,” the release said. “The Liberals will pass their bill by Sunday, but the NDP will force Wynne to stay at work this weekend and debate the bill.

“Knowing this bill will pass by Sunday, the government has the authority to notify colleges to prepare to get back to work next week. The Liberals have the procedural tools to pass the bill by Sunday without the unanimous consent of the parties today.”

Describing the legislation as “anti-worker,” the release said the NDP had no intention of allowing Wynne to take the weekend off when she was responsible for the current situation.

“The NDP will force the parties to return to the house and give this bill, at least, its due diligence and debate,” NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson is quoted as saying in the release.

If the legislation passes, students could be back in class early next week.
 


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