Queen’s Park Highlights - May 13, 2011

1. Tories criticize Government over “Secret” Salary Deal for Civil Servants

Last week, the media reported that the government signed a confidential agreement with OPSEU that gives public civil servants an additional salary increase of 1% for 2012 resulting in a 3% increase for that year.  The agreement was made prior to the government’s announcement that it would be looking for wage freezes in upcoming public sector salary negotiations.

On May 9, PC Leader Tim Hudak asked Finance Minister Dwight Duncan: “…can you confirm that no other unions have a similar increase after the next election campaign?” Minister Duncan replied:

“The only thing secret around here is what the Tories will do if they come to office. They were going to get rid of the Human Rights Tribunal, and now they tell us that they’re going to keep it. Whatever happened to the original deal? Those are what the secrets are around here. The Leader of the Opposition says he’s going to get rid of arbitration, but he doesn’t say what he’ll replace it with…

When pressed for a more direct response in a supplementary, Minister Duncan stated:

“Actually, that so-called deal saved the taxpayers $137 million. That compares to another era with another government that that member was a part of, where we saw strikes and repeated loss in our school systems and in our public sector that amounted to enormous costs. So indeed, we got a four-year deal with OPSEU. There was a signed letter to the collective agreement, which is quite common, and it saved $137 million. We stand by that deal. It’s a good deal for taxpayers, and we’ll continue to work with all of our partners in the public and broader public sectors to lower the costs of the government.”

In response, Mr. Hudak stated:

“I don’t think anybody is buying that. If it was such a good deal, you’d make it public. You wouldn’t try to bury it. You wouldn’t pay government lawyers to keep it under wraps. You tried to bury this deal, Minister, because you wanted to keep it secret. It was a payoff to win votes after the next election campaign—“

2. PC MPP alleges Working Family Coalition Members will Receive Special Treatment in Contract Negotiations

On May 9, 2011, PC MPP Lisa MacLeod asked Government Services Minister Harinder Takhar:

“If 1% of 38,000 workers is the bargain you struck with a public sector union leader who is not contributing to the Working Families coalition, how much will Ontario families pay for the deals you have in store for the union leaders who are part of the McGuinty Liberal attack dog campaign, the Working Families Coalition?”

Minister Takhar replied:

“I’m not sure what the definition of “secret agreement” is on the other side. Let me say this: We have 38,000 employees in OPSEU, and this agreement was presented to all the local presidents and they presented it to all the members in OPSEU. If it was presented to all the members in OPSEU, how could it be a secret agreement?

“The other thing is, at the end of the day, the agreement between an employer and an employee is reached after negotiations. Every agreement is different, and so one agreement cannot be compared to another agreement. In this agreement, in fact, the four-year agreement led to about an 8.7% increase with a 1.25% decrease in cost.”

In a supplementary question, Ms. MacLeod asked:

“You still have to settle with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Nurses’ Association. They’re all members of the Working Families Coalition; they all contribute big money to the war chest of the attack ad campaign—who works for the Premier’s former chief of staff.

“How much more money will Ontario families have to pay so that they can settle a score for their smear—“

Minister Takhar repeated his response about the government focus on getting “the best deal for taxpayers.”

3. PC Education Critic cites Fraser Institute Report to Question Education Gains

On May 9, PC Education Critic Elizabeth Witmer referred to the recent Fraser Institute report and said:

“Despite the government’s boasts about achievements in education, student achievement has stalled in literacy and math. The report found no statistical upward trend in student achievement despite the investment of billions of dollars. Ontario families do expect value for their money; they’re just not seeing it right now.

“Minister, why are the families in this province not getting value for their money?”

Minister Dombrowsky replied:

“I’m so disappointed—not surprised—that the honourable member would stand in her place and seek to diminish the efforts of teachers and students in the province of Ontario.

“We have empirical evidence: Graduation rates have increased. When we make this announcement, what do they do on the other side? They say, “Well, you know, if you’ve taken five years to graduate, you really don’t count.” We believe in students. We are grateful for the efforts of their teachers. We are very happy to make it plain to everyone in Ontario that we are building a strong secondary system, in spite of what the honourable member might want to say.”

In her supplementary question, Ms. Witmer referred to a report published by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations that raised concerns regarding the literacy and math skills of students entering university and the need for remedial programs.  She stated: “Minister, a good investment requires a good return. Clearly, the government is not delivering. Why not?”

Minister Dombrowsky replied:

“Let me tell the honourable member about what good return is. Bad return is when one out of three students doesn’t graduate from secondary school. That is the record of the previous government. A much better return is when over 80% of students in our schools are now graduating. A better return is when the program for international student assessment, an independent international body, would say that our students are improving.”

4. Amendments regarding Extended Day Programs for Full-day Kindergarten pass

On May 10, Bill 173, the Better Tomorrow for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2011, received Third Reading.  It received Royal Assent on May 12.  The legislation includes Education Act amendments that remove the requirement that school boards directly operate before- and after-school child care programs for students enrolled in the new full-day kindergarten program.  Henceforth, boards will have the option to contract the “extended day” programs to third party operators.

For more information, check the website of the Ontario Legislature:  www.ontla.on.ca