Monday, June 19, 2000

Straight thoughts 34

June 19, 2000

The Ontario Minister of Education Janet Ecker seems to be encouraged by polls showing that most Ontarians are happy about the way the government is handling teachers.
It is true that our education system needs a major overhaul, but it is also very risky to govern by polls. What is supposedly democratic, because it reflects majority opinion, becomes unjust because a large minority 's constitutional freedoms are trashed.
The Toronto Star, reporting on Bill 74 notes:
"It now specifies that 'work to rule'' is an illegal strike. This allows Ecker to declare it illegal to abide by a contract - even one she has dictated and imposed on teachers."
Working according to the rules (of the contract) is now illegal?
Apart from being a paradox, does the PC government believe that a contract is a contract?