You don’t avert a strike by refusing to negotiate. You avert a strike by bargaining a deal. But this week, the minister has stubbornly refused to negotiate. Yesterday, the government rejected a new proposal from CUPE that could have ended this whole situation. The government has failed to ask for binding arbitration.

The Premier claims they’re doing all they can for our kids, so why, when there are so many other things the government could have done this week, have they virtually guaranteed schools will be disrupted tomorrow?

Interjections.

It’s nice to see the opposition is changing the message to they’re actually worried about kids, because they were worried about the unions yesterday and the day before and the day before.

From the beginning, I’ve been very clear that we will do whatever it takes to keep Ontario’s two million students in class. We will do whatever it takes to give students and parents certainty. After two years of pandemic disruptions, enough is enough. We need kids in the classroom, learning. This is about the mental, emotional and physical well-being of two million students and, therefore, their respective families after two very difficult years brought on by this pandemic.

Unfortunately, CUPE refuses, absolutely refuses, to withdraw their strike action. They refuse to back down from shutting down schools. CUPE has left us no choice but to use legislation to ensure stability—

Mr. Speaker, we will always, always support the front-line workers. Our offer includes increased wages, the largest in the entire country, and maintains the most generous pension and benefit plan, again in the entire country, including 131 paid sick days.

The fact is, CUPE demanded a nearly 50% increase and threatened a strike if they didn’t get it. They have left us—

Interjections.

Interjections.

The question is for the Premier. Bill 27 invokes the “notwithstanding” clause to violate sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code, and that is a disgrace. The Premier says there is no other option. I disagree. It doesn’t have to be this way. The Conservative government doesn’t have to stop kids from going to school on Friday. There are more options. For example, the minister could continue negotiating. CUPE came back to the table yesterday with substantial changes. The minister could offer to extend the deadline and continue to bargain. The minister could offer binding arbitration.

My question: If the Premier is dedicated to keeping kids in class, why not use all the options? Has the Premier directed the minister to issue binding arbitration or to offer to continue bargaining beyond the deadline, and if not, then why is the Premier choosing to force the strike?

Ma question : ce gouvernement va-t-il se remettre à négocier une entente équitable afin que les travailleurs comme Trixie puissent retourner auprès des élèves et faire le travail qu’ils aiment?

Speaker, we will ensure kids are in the classroom. That is the obligation we made to the people of Ontario.

I want to read a message from Ian, from my colleague the member for Burlington. Ian said: “I just want to thank you for your government introducing Bill 28. The kids have had enough disruption in their education over the past three years, and I’m very happy to see the Ford government standing up to the CUPE. Please continue to advocate for the kids of Ontario.”

Mr. Speaker, these are the voices we are hearing from parents, those that are desperate to see their kids get back on track, desperate to see them have the social and emotional interaction, the learning, the mental health benefits that come with our schools. And so, Speaker, we’re moving forward with the bill.

Regrettably, as it is, we’re in this place in the first place because we presented CUPE with a path to a voluntary settlement. They refused. They insisted on the strike. Therefore, the government will bring forth and move forward this legislation that provides stability for the people of this province.

Not one time, for the record state, has a Liberal or New Democrat asked the union to withdraw the strike on two million kids. Am I the only one, are we the only ones who are somewhat concerned with the impact on kids? I guess we are. I find that quite troubling, that only Progressive Conservatives are standing up to ensure kids are in school.

I’m urging the members opposite to put the interests of children first. Vote for this bill. Let’s make sure kids are in school, Speaker.

What I will note is a quote from Larry from London, a retired educator, a vice-principal, who said, “The students have already lost so much over the past two and a half years—lost education, effects on their mental health. Send a message to the unions that kids belong in school.”

We firmly agree with this former educator, who himself has seen the adverse impacts of disruption. In response to the union’s decision to proceed with the strike, the government brought forth legislation to avert the strike and to keep kids in school, where we believe they belong.