A PIVOTAL VICTORY A historical context of the Bill 115 Charter challenge, and what it means for the future - Education Forum
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A PIVOTAL
VICTORY
A historical context of
the Bill 115 Charter
challenge, and what it
means for the future
ONE PUBLIC SYSTEM | NESTLÉ WATER CRISIS | RESEARCHED
Contents Diverse,
inclusive
and fair.
fall 2017, vol. 44, issue 1
ONE
PUBLIC
SYSTEM IN EACH OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE
Departments
4 From the Editor/Mot du rédacteur en chef
36 Beyond the classroom
38 Top picks
40 Last Word/Mot de la fin
42 Events
Articles
7 The gendered face of school violence
A call for action
by Chantal Mancini
9 Shining a light on the list
Has Ontario’s “Sunshine List” outlived its relevance?
by Tracey Germa
11 One public system
A conversation that needs to be had
by Domenic Bellissimo
Features
14 Water warriors
by Diane Ballantyne
20 A pivotal victory/Un triomphe déterminant
by/par Bob Fisher
30 Tom Bennett and the researchED revolution
by Randy Banderob
Editor Michael Young Managing Editor/Art Direction & Layout Ronda Allan Advertising Co-ordinator Audrey Bourque Member Canadian
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3 education forum fall 2017
From the Editor
The trouble with Betsy
Trump’s Secretary of Education has no business in Ontario schools
conflicts,” an explanation that rang a bit tario. The Ministry of Education tried
hollow in light of the groundswell of op- to frame it as an opportunity to “show-
position that had erupted. case” Ontario’s publicly-funded educa-
That groundswell of opposition tion system, but does anyone believe
was entirely justified. DeVos’s well- that DeVos, whose contempt for public
earned reputation is that of an ultra- education is well-documented, would
conservative billionaire whose primary be interested in learning anything from
agenda is to discredit and destabilize our system?
public schools, while promoting a cen- Ontarians may be tempted to assume
tral role for the private sector in educa- that our well-established tradition of
tion. She claims to be advocating for quality public education keeps us safe
“school choice,” which might sound from the steady creep of privatization
innocuous enough, but it manifests as that DeVos is promoting so success-
a range of programs that divert public fully south of the border. But perhaps
money away from public education— we shouldn’t be so smug. We need only
money that ultimately ends up, either look further south, where Mexican
through direct funding or through tu- teachers have been forced to strike in
ition subsidies to individual students, in recent years in an effort to stop the en-
It came to light on a Monday morn-
ing at the beginning of October that
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
the hands of private or religious schools.
In the U.S. states where these pro-
grams have been most enthusiastically
croachment of private interests into the
sphere of public education. Mexico, by
the way, also has a long tradition of pub-
was planning to visit Ontario later that adopted, funding for public education lic education, access to which is guaran-
week. News reports said that DeVos, a is already dwindling as tax revenues are teed in the national constitution. But
champion of “school choice,” would be funnelled to private institutions—insti- since 2014, Mexican business interests,
visiting schools in the Toronto area and tutions that have almost no public ac- working with an American company
meeting with officials from the Ministry countability in comparison to public that runs charter schools, have opened
of Education. schools. Private schools, for example, at least seven private schools in northern
Reaction from educators and their can pick and choose the students they Mexico. That sounds a lot like the thin
representatives was swift and unequivo- admit, which, more often than not, edge of a very dangerous wedge.
cal. OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey results in racial and other forms of dis- We don’t know for sure why Betsy
Bischof said it was “alarming” and “an crimination. American Federation of DeVos was planning to visit Ontario,
affront to our members” that the gov- Teachers President Randi Weingarten but given her history it would be hard to
ernment would allow DeVos to visit writes that “this use of privatization imagine that her visit would have served
schools in Ontario. And Ontario Teach- and this disinvestment are only slightly the interests of anyone other than pri-
ers’ Federation President Chris Cowley more polite cousins of segregation.” To vate businesses like those that are ben-
said that DeVos should “keep her back- Weingarten, DeVos’s real agenda is ob- efitting from her policies in the U.S. It’s
wards ideas out of Ontario.” The outcry vious: “How better to pave the way to disconcerting that she was planning to
was loud enough that it captured the at- privatize public education than to starve come here, and it’s just as disconcert-
tention of some major U.S. media out- public schools to the breaking point, ing that the Ministry of Education was
lets, including Newsweek magazine and criticize their deficiencies, and let the planning to welcome her. Once again, as
The Washington Post. market handle the rest—all in the name is so often the case, it was up to educa-
Two days after it was first reported, of choice.” tors themselves to take a stand on behalf
and just one day before it was sched- Given this background, it’s difficult of public education in Ontario.
uled to occur, DeVos’s visit was abruptly not to be at least a little suspicious about Michael Young, Editor
cancelled. Her office cited “scheduling the motive for DeVos’s plan to visit On- editor@education-forum.ca
4 education forum fall 2017
Mot du rédacteur en chef
Le problème avec Betsy
La secrétaire à l’éducation du président américain Trump n’a rien à faire dans les écoles de l’Ontario
Un lundi matin du début d’octobre,
on nous a révélé que Betsy De-
Vos, secrétaire à l’éducation des États-
mais cela se présente par un éventail
de programmes qui redirigent les fonds
publics de l’éducation publique, argent
publique est bien décrit, souhaiterait en
apprendre davantage sur notre système?
Les Ontariennes et Ontariens pour-
Unis, devait visiter l’Ontario plus tard qui, au bout du compte, aboutit dans les raient être tentés de supposer que notre
dans la semaine. Les nouvelles rappor- mains des écoles privées ou religieuses, tradition d’éducation publique de qua-
taient que Betsy DeVos, qui préconise soit par du financement direct ou par lité bien ancrée nous garde à l’abri de
« le choix d’école » visiterait les écoles la subvention des frais de scolarité la recrudescence constante de la pri-
de la région de Toronto et qu’elle ren- aux élèves. vatisation que Betsy DeVos réussit à
contrerait des représentants du minis- Dans les États américains où ces promouvoir chez nos voisins du Sud.
tère de l’Éducation. programmes ont été adoptés avec Mais peut-être ne devrions-nous pas
Les réactions des éducateurs et de beaucoup d’enthousiasme, le finance- nous réjouir. Nous n’avons qu’à regar-
leurs représentants ont été rapides et ment de l’éducation publique dimi- der plus loin, au Sud, où ces dernières
sans équivoque. Harvey Bischof, pré- nue déjà, car les recettes fiscales sont années les enseignants mexicains ont
sident d’OSSTF/FEESO, a précisé acheminées vers les établissements été poussés à la grève pour mettre fin
qu’il était « inquiétant » et « un affront privés, établissements qui rendent très à l’intrusion des intérêts privés dans la
à nos membres » que le gouvernement peu de comptes au public compara- sphère de l’éducation publique. Au fait,
permette à Betsy DeVos de visiter les tivement aux écoles publiques. Les le Mexique a aussi une longue tradi-
écoles ontariennes. Chris Cowley, écoles privées, par exemple, peuvent tion en matière d’éducation publique,
président de la Fédération des ensei- choisir les élèves qu’ils acceptent qui, dont l’accès est garanti dans la consti-
gnantes et des enseignants de l’Onta- la plupart du temps, se traduit par du tution nationale. Mais depuis 2014,
rio, a déclaré que Betsy DeVos devrait racisme et d’autres formes de discrimi- les intérêts commerciaux mexicains, en
« garder ses idées rétrogrades en dehors nation. Randi Weingarten, présidente collaboration avec une entreprise amé-
de l’Ontario. » Le tollé a été assez fort de l’American Federation of Teachers, a ricaine qui opère des écoles à charte,
qu’il a captivé l’attention de certains écrit que « ce recours à la privatisation ont ouvert au moins sept écoles privées
des principaux médias des États-Unis, et ce désinvestissement ne sont que des dans le nord du Mexique. Sommes-
notamment la revue Newsweek et The cousins légèrement plus polis de la sé- nous en train d’ouvrir la voie à quelque
Washington Post. grégation. » Pour Randi Weingarten, chose de dangereux?
Deux jours après que la nouvelle a été le véritable objectif de Betsy DeVos Nous ne connaissons pas avec certi-
rendue publique et un jour seulement est évident : « Comment mieux tracer tude les raisons pour lesquelles Betsy
avant le moment de son arrivée, la vi- la voie à la privatisation de l’éducation DeVos planifiait une visite en Ontario,
site de Betsy DeVos a été soudainement publique que d’affamer les écoles pu- mais compte tenu de ses antécédents,
annulée. Son bureau a mentionné « un bliques jusqu’à la limite, de critiquer on imagine mal que sa visite aurait ser-
conflit d’horaire », une explication qui leurs lacunes et de s’en remettre au vi les intérêts de personne d’autre que
paraît un peu vide de sens à la lumière marché pour le reste, tout cela au nom les entreprises privées comme celles qui
de la vague d’opposition qui a éclaté. du choix. » profitent de ses politiques aux États-
Cette vague d’opposition était tout à Dans ces conditions, il est difficile de Unis. Il est déconcertant qu’elle pré-
fait justifiée. La réputation bien méri- ne pas être un peu méfiant quant à la voyait de venir ici et il est encore plus
tée de Betsy DeVos est celle d’une mil- raison de la planification d’une visite de déroutant que le ministère de l’Édu-
liardaire ultraconservatrice dont le seul Betsy DeVos en Ontario. Le ministère cation planifiait de l’accueillir. Encore
but est de discréditer et de déstabiliser de l’Éducation a essayé d’orienter cette une fois, comme c’est fréquemment le
les écoles publiques, tout en faisant visite comme une occasion « de mettre cas, il a fallu que les éducateurs eux-
la promotion du rôle déterminant du en valeur » le système d’éducation on- mêmes prennent parti en faveur de
secteur privé dans la sphère de l’éduca- tarien financé à même les deniers pu- l’éducation publique en Ontario.
tion. Elle préconise « le choix d’école », blics, mais qui peut croire que Betsy Michael Young, rédacteur en chef
ce qui peut sembler plutôt inoffensif, DeVos, dont le mépris pour l’éducation editor@education-forum.ca
5 education forum fall 2017
6 education forum fall 2017
The gendered face of school violence
A call for action
T he Ontario government has finally
responded to lobbying efforts by
OSSTF/FEESO and others on the is-
with seriously.
In addition, the term masks the fact
that, in a system where the overwhelm-
• A male student repeatedly asks a
teacher for a hug in front of class, and
when she says no, says loudly, ‘that’s
sue of violence in our schools, with an ing majority of workers identify as wom- not what you said last night’
emphasis on enforcement of the Occupa- en, the victims of all forms of school • A parent, via email, informs a preg-
tion Health and Safety Act, more training violence are primarily female. School nant teacher that he doesn’t want his
for staff, and revised reporting processes. violence is a gender issue. child ‘at the mercy of a pregnant, hor-
This is a positive start for all of those who In a recent Toronto Star article, Dur- monal woman’
work in education, and for Ontario stu- ham Elementary Teachers’ Federation of • An educational assistant repeatedly
dents. However, there remains an under- Ontario (ETFO) President David Mas- has her breasts grabbed by a student
lying and largely unnamed facet to the tin raised the issue of gender in an in- in her class
violent incidents that education workers terview on school violence. He says, “It’s • The school office administrator is
are experiencing in schools. The term a gender issue, too—I have significant called a ‘fucking bitch’ by a parent
‘school violence’ is an all-encompassing concerns about students who are going • A teacher is being taunted repeatedly
one, a generalized term used to describe home after witnessing violence against by a group of boys as she walks down
the verbal and physical abuse of educa- women.”i Front-line education union the hall. The boys also use their bodies
tion workers by students and sometimes leaders know what gender-based vio- to ‘body check’ her and block her path
parents. This general term does not dif- lence in schools looks like. The following
ferentiate between violent incidents that are real-life examples of this form of vio- In almost any other context, these
Artwork: Anna Zhyn
may result from the frustration of a child lence against OSSTF/FEESO members: incidents would be framed as sexual
with behavioural issues, and violent inci- harassment and/or sexual assault. But
dents perpetrated by a student or parent • A male student simulates sexual inter- in the school system, they are often not
with malicious intent, though it needs to course behind a teacher as she is bent taken seriously. The Ministry of Educa-
be stressed that all forms must be dealt over in class organizing materials tion’s own definition of gender-based
7 education forum fall 2017violence is “any form of behaviour—in- eral term of ‘violence.’ There must be truly promote safe and healthy schools,
cluding psychological, physical, and sexual specific consequences and procedures in it must provide school Boards with time,
behaviour—that is based on an individ- response to incidents. Policy must align resources, and expertise to tackle gender-
ual’s gender and is intended to control, with federal and provincial legislation based violence against staff as well as stu-
intimidate, or harm the individual.” ii that prohibits discrimination on the ba- dents. If Boards want to pay more than
Neither the Ministry nor the unions that sis of gender and gender-identity. lip service to positive learning climates
represent education workers can ignore and environments, they must absolutely
the issue of gender as they tackle the is- Education and training commit to dealing with the issue on an
sue of school violence. Education workers must be trained so ongoing basis by revisiting policy, proce-
We also cannot ignore the fact that that they can frame specific incidents as dure, and the training of staff. If unions
schools are a microcosm of society at gender-based violence and report them who represent education workers wish
large, and that violence against women accordingly. There must be an under- to continue to promote equity and pro-
is still not viewed as seriously as other standing by workers themselves that sex- tect their members, they need to build
forms of crime. In Canada, all forms of ual harassment and sexual assault are not awareness around the issue, not only
violent crime have steadily decreased a normal part of their day, or that the among their own members, but in the
over time—with the exception of sexual context of a school somehow lessens the political arena as well. All stakehold-
assault, which has remained at steady seriousness and impact that they have. ers must continue to combat all forms
rates.iii Increasingly violent pornogra- The training of Board administra- of school violence, while acknowledg-
phy is readily available for consumption tion at all levels is also essential. Ad- ing and responding to the gender-
online. Popular music and media still ministration must acquire an equity based violence that is masked by the
perpetuate sexism and sexual violence. lens in order to frame specific incidents catch-all phrase.
To the south, the United States handed of gender-based violence when a staff The school system may be a reflec-
its most powerful position to a man who member reports them—and even if the tion of society at large, but it can also
publicly bragged about sexually assault- staff member has not quite fully framed be a prime site for social change. When
ing women. We can’t for one moment the incident themselves. They must take Boards and unions educate staff on gen-
assume that the school system is free these incidents seriously and understand der-based school violence, they educate
of the sexism that is so prevalent in all the impact that they have on both staff students as well. It’s time to acknowledge
other facets of life, or that students and and students. They must have a fulsome the gendered face of violence in schools,
parents will leave sexist behaviour at the understanding of Ministry and Board and to take concrete steps to deal with
door upon entering the school. Educa- policy and procedure in order to imme- it. There can only be a positive outcome
tion is a feminized profession: it is no diately and appropriately respond. of increased awareness and safety that
wonder that it still appears to be a place Students and parents must also be ed- extends beyond schools into other areas,
where gender-based violence is normal- ucated on the issue, including the conse- now and into the future.
ized, and where generalized violence quences of any objectionable behaviour
against mostly women workers is still as per Ministry and Board policy. Chantal Mancini is the former presi-
somehow seen as acceptable. dent of the Teachers’ Unit for District 21,
Tackling this issue in schools is a huge Political action Hamilton-Wentworth. She is currently a
job, but it is one that is essential for the Due to the nature of gender-based PhD candidate in the Department of
protection of education workers. Do- violence—which keeps coming back if Labour Studies at McMaster University.
ing so will also result in a safer environ- it’s not continually dealt with—unions
ment for students, who are witnessing must keep up the momentum. By edu-
this violence without it being decon- cating their members and lobbying the
structed or addressed. There are three Ministry and Boards, they must con-
areas that we can use to address gender- tinually work for improved policies and i Rushowy, K. (2017, June 24). Violence
based violence, and all three should procedures, appropriate responses to in Ontario schools prompts call for more
be used simultaneously, rather than as incidents, and ongoing training. They front-line staff. The Toronto Star. Retrieved
individual ‘steps.’ can also bargain contract language that from www.thestar.com
helps protect their members and allows ii Safe Schools Action Team. Ministry of
Policy and procedure them avenues to push back when Boards Education: Ontario (2008). Shaping a Cul-
The Ministry of Education and the are not addressing the issues. Parent ture of Respect in Our Schools: Promoting Safe
school boards must include specific lan- groups are also a valuable ally in tackling and Healthy Relationships. www.edu.gov.on/
guage around gender-based violence in gender-based school violence, as it also ca/eng/teachers/RespectCulture.pdf
Codes of Conduct, in order to ensure directly impacts their children’s safety iii Statistics Canada. 2015. Self-reported
that this form of violence is understood and learning. victimization, 2014. Statistics Canada Cata-
as specific and not buried under the gen- If the Ministry of Education wishes to logue no. 11-001-X, November 23, 2015.
8 education forum fall 2017Shining a light on the list
Has Ontario’s “Sunshine List” outlived its relevance?
T his spring, while addressing the
press about the release of the 2016
Ontario “Sunshine List,” the annual list
thanks to the fact that the $100,000
cut-off has remained unchanged since
the list’s inception under Mike Harris in
by 82 per cent, from 123,410 to 22,138.
Looking at the numbers in terms of
education workers helps put things in
of public sector workers who earned 1996. In its original visioning, the Pub- a bit of perspective. With the current
more than $100,000 the previous year, lic Sector Salary Disclosure Act sought to $100,000 threshold in place, many
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said, disclose the highest public sector earn- top-category teachers are close to mak-
“Is $100,000 a lot of money? I think it ers and to increase public confidence in ing the Sunshine List; if they were to do
is.” Twenty years after its inception, the Harris’s Conservative government. How- summer school, have a specialized posi-
Sunshine List continues to be a media- ever, 20 years later, the purpose, validity, tion with extra compensation, or earn
hyped opportunity to scrutinize the and relevance of the list, and its thresh- any kind of retro pay, they would easily
wages of Ontario’s public sector workers. old, need to be critically examined. The break the barrier. In 1996, the top cat-
The problem, though, is that it’s more history of the list, as well as its stagnant egory for most teacher salary contracts
likely now than ever that you may find benchmark of $100,000, means it now in Ontario was significantly lower. In
your neighbours, or even yourself, bask- creates a much different outcome and ef- Toronto, for example, the top salary was
ing in the list’s sunny glow. It’s a bit of fect than it did in its infancy. about $65,000.
an annual hunt for many to see if they According to Statistics Canada, the The list is a “totally different measure
know anyone on the list—recreation- Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased now, but it would be politically unpopu-
ally checking in on the financial status by 44.4 per cent between 1996 and lar to change,” suggests Dr. Raymond
Artwork: Ronda Allan
of our friends. Not only voyeuristic, 2016. This means that a 1996-equivalent D. Dart, an Associate Professor in the
the act leads to judgment, divisiveness, threshold for the Ontario Sunshine List School of Business at Trent University.
and derision amongst the workers of today would be an income of $144,430. “It should always have been indexed [to
our province. The simple act of adjusting the threshold the CPI], but public employees are al-
The number of names on the On- as the CPI increased would have reduced ways an easy target.”
tario Sunshine List has grown each year, the number of names on the list today OSSTF/FEESO Member Karen Stew-
9 education forum fall 2017art (District14, Kawartha Pine Ridge) question the validity of the list and its more rapidly, but at the same time we
echoed Professor Dart’s sentiment. She current threshold. have the growth of precarious and frag-
says, “We already have to defend our- Along with the Sunshine List’s origi- mented employment. So we have sig-
selves in public, and I’m concerned nal intentions of transparency and nificant wage gaps between public and
people will question me more when we accountability come unintended out- private sectors, but we are still looking
reach the list. I want to know how to comes, most especially because of the at the size of public salaries. Our focus
respond. I believe that our taxes should lack of CPI indexing. The expanding needs to be elsewhere. Of course reviews
be used to create good services, schools, membership on the list leads to a scape- of public spending are good, but we
universities, roads, and hospitals.” Stew- goating of those professions whose levels need to instead look at how employment
art’s fear is common among public ser- of compensation have been protected security is destabilizing and unraveling.”
vice workers whose jobs would not even through the work of their unions and He suggests that, rather than looking at
have come close to making the list when federations, and have often simply kept the Sunshine List as a negative, it needs
it was first initiated. The 2016 list in- up with the rate of inflation. At the same to be framed as a “desired state of em-
cludes teachers, police officers, nurses, time, the private sector has rushed to ployment.” He further suggests that it
principals, and professors. The face and limit levels of compensation and secu- is the responsibility of those of us who
character of the Sunshine List is chang- rity for its rank and file workers, while are approaching, or have exceeded, the
ing rapidly, and that change is driving increasing the wages of its CEOs and $100,000 threshold to engage in soli-
more and more other top earners—but the Sunshine darity work and social justice activism.
people to List draws the focus away from this wage We need to advocate for those whose
gap. We end up with a scenario where jobs and wages are destabilized by the
shame and blame cards get political increasing gap between private sec-
leaders points in the media, while the tor wage-leaders and the precarious,
focus on public-sector compensation fragmented workers.
continues to force a wedge between It’s true that education workers are an
the province’s workers. Perhaps easy target; most of us have strong job
this is exactly what the Wyn- protections, the prospect of a healthy
ne government is seeking. pension, and good benefits. However,
We are now shaming the the quality of our working conditions
very professions that also gives us a responsibility to stand
have historically been up and proclaim, “This is what a fair
honoured and re- wage is!” With the advent of increases
spected—work- in Ontario’s minimum wage and in the
ers who serve wake of the $15 and Fairness campaign,
the public good, perhaps the Sunshine List will become
like nurses, po- a call to arms amongst education work-
lice, firefighters ers, drawing us to advocate for fair
and educators. wages and benefits for all of Ontario’s
Professor Dart’s workers. Rather than allowing the list
belief is that the to divide workers, it can act as a catalyst
political nature for solidarity.
of wages has So, yes, Premier Wynne, perhaps
changed, partly $100,000 is a lot of money, but no one
because we’ve should be shamed simply because their
seen such a large- wages have kept up with inflation. There
scale escalation is no shame in professionals earning a
of top-level pri- professional salary. The shame is in the
vate sector wages: huge number of working people in On-
“Twenty years tario who are still not earning a decent,
ago the worry living wage.
was about grow-
ing public sector Tracey Germa is the Vice-President of
wages. Now we the Teacher Bargaining Unit in District
have private sec- 14, Kawartha Pine Ridge and is also a
tor wages that member of the provincial Communica-
have grown much tions/Political Action Committee.One public system
A conversation that needs to be had
Diverse,
inclusive
and fair.
ONE
PUBLIC
SYSTEM IN EACH OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE
It is a fact that an object tossed into
water creates ripples that expand far
beyond the point of impact, with poten-
education to the students it serves. Some-
thing all of us can be proud of.
But this arrangement is facing a number
The funding formula currently rewards
boards for closing under-enrolled schools.
As overall student numbers have de-
tially far-reaching effects. Similarly, a solid of challenges, and if our education system creased, pressure to maintain enrolment
idea “tossed into a discussion” will often is to remain current and a world leader, has led to more competition between
stimulate a more expansive debate and be- it is in need of a rethink. Demographic these different school systems and schools
gin a process of enquiry that, though po- changes to Ontario over the past five de- boards. In fact a significant amount of
tentially difficult, can have an enormous cades alone have meant that declining en- money is spent on television, radio and
positive effect. rollment is a reality for all four systems. print advertising encouraging students
Such is the case for the campaign to This is contributing to school closures and to choose a particular board. These are
achieve a single school system and the inequitable outcomes for some commu- resources which could be better spent on
issue of education funding and gov- nities. As the cliché goes, busing students students’ needs.
ernance in Ontario. It is the policy of past one half-empty school so they can be It also continues to be indefensible, in
OSSTF/FEESO that there should be educated in another half-empty school 2017, to provide fully-funded religious
only one publicly-funded school system only impoverishes the entire system. education for one denomination—espe-
for each official language and that there In situations like this, creating one cially when students can now be exempt
be no job loss as a result of moving to such school system could, in many instances, from receiving religious instruction in
Artwork: Kristina Ferorelli
a system. mean merging two or more under- those schools! The fact that more and
Currently, publicly-funded education capacity schools into one, which is a good more non-Catholics are attending Catho-
in Ontario is divided into four distinct thing. Full schools mean more programs, lic schools but receiving no religious in-
systems—English Public; English Catho- more caring adults in the building, and struction defeats the original purpose for
lic; French Public and French Catholic. more opportunities for students when having a Roman Catholic system. The fact
All fully funded by the taxpayers of On- it comes to educational programing and that leaders in Canada back in 1867 made
tario. Each one provides high quality extra-curricular activities. a deal, based on the demographic make-
11 education forum fall 2017savings found to improve the educational
outcomes for students. The One Public
System website includes a poll that asks
visitors how they would reinvest savings.
To date, more than 4,000 people have
completed the poll, and the top three rec-
ommendations for reinvestment are to:
• Reduce class sizes;
• Ensure appropriate supports are in
place to provide optimum learning for
every student;
• Increase the availability of specialty
teachers in subjects such as music,
health and physical education, and art.
In one short year, the campaign has
achieved exceptional reach by attracting
tens of thousands Ontarians. In that time
dozens of articles have appeared on the
topic. Journalists have conducted inter-
views with recently retired Members of
Provincial Parliament, and in many cases
those MPPs themselves agree that the is-
sue needs to be discussed in a formal,
organized way. Former deputy ministers
have also come out in favour of this solu-
tion as a way of modernizing our school
system. The news section of the website
tracks media reports dealing with the is-
sue from a variety of perspectives. “It is
clearly an idea whose time has come,” as
one radio host commented while opening
the phone lines to listeners’ opinions on
the merits of combining school boards.
Our Federation is committed to this
campaign because we recognize that
up of the country at that time, should not website onepublicsystem.ca moving to one public system would
mean that deal can never change. On- The campaign proposes a Charter for provide long-term solutions to many of
tario’s increasingly diverse population also Public Education, which declares that the immediate problems that plague our
agrees that there should be a streamlining, Ontarians have a right to high quality, current system.
according to polling done by Vector re- publicly-funded education that is uni- As we consider new initiatives and in-
search over the past 10 years. versally accessible and supports diversity, novations in our ongoing commitment
Quebec and Newfoundland and Lab- equity and fairness. It pledges to respect to building the best possible education
rador both changed their school systems. students’ and their families’ beliefs while system, it would be a huge mistake for us
Quebec has eliminated its Catholic and recognizing that publicly-funded educa- to not toss this idea into the debate about
Protestant school boards, and Newfound- tion is open to everyone, and does not the kinds of changes needed to protect
land and Labrador has replaced seven favour one religion or denomination and enhance public education.
denominational school boards with one over another.
public board. All that is needed in On- The campaign calls on the provincial Domenic Bellissimo is the Director
tario is the political will to make a simi- government to establish an all-party task of the Communications/Political Ac-
lar change. What is needed is a respectful force to look into the pros and cons of tion Department at OSSTF/FEESO
dialogue between educators, government, moving to one public, secular school sys- Provincial Office.
parents and local communities agreeing tem for each official language.
on the kinds of schools they need. The campaign also emphasizes that this
One year ago the campaign for a is not a cost-cutting measure and asks
single system was launched with the members of the public to reinvest any
12 education forum fall 2017Community.
• Educators
• Administrators
• Support staff
• Families
Insurance forthe
Insurance for theWhole
Whole Education
Education Community.
Community.
Insurance for the
• Educators
Whole Education
• Administrators
• Support staff
• Families
Community.
• Educators
• Administrators
• Support staff
• Families
TeachersLife.com
TeachersLife.com
TeachersLife.com
TeachersLife.com
13 education forum fall 2017by Diane Ballantyne
“Despite our shared mythology of limitless
water...corporations are eyeing Canada’s
water, setting up bottled water operations
and bidding to run water services on a
for-profit basis.”
—Maude Barlow, Honourary Chairperson,
Council of Canadians
While reading Barlow’s Boiling Point (reviewed in Education Fo-
rum, Winter 2017) this quote hit me where I live, literally.
About two years ago, Nestlé came knocking on the door of an
unused property in Centre Wellington, Ontario (better known as
Fergus and Elora, pre-amalgamation). The owners of the Middle-
brook Road property had a modest water-taking permit and had
floundered with a “make your own” beer and wine operation. They
also provided modest quantities of water for keeping construction
site dust down and filling swimming pools, etc. The operation did
not include any bottling of the water.
Unbeknownst to the community, however, the owners had
renamed the operation as a “numbered company” and applied
not just for a renewal of their permit, but for an increase that
would allow the extraction of 1.6 million litres of water per day.
The province granted the new, expanded permit, which made
for a viable water bottling operation. This was suddenly a very
valuable property.
Nestlé—a corporate water raider, as Barlow refers to them—
made a conditional offer, and so began the waiting game for a
permit for a water quality and flow rate pump test. It is worth
noting that according to the Agriculture Trend Analysis on Water,
76 per cent of water bottled in Canada goes to the United States.
Artwork: Anna Zhyn
In 2010, the United Nations, after tireless work by Barlow (who,
in 2008/2009 served as Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd Presi-
dent of the United Nations General Assembly and was a leader in
15 education forum fall 2017the campaign to have water recognized mail letters to their MPPs.
as a human right by the UN) recognized Barn dances, silent auctions and floats
the human right to water and sanitation, in local parades were all undertaken
and acknowledged that “...clean drink- as ways to raise funds and raise com-
ing water and sanitation are essential to munity awareness in the fight against
the realization of all human rights. ...It is packaged water.
a prerequisite for the realization of other The 2016 Dominion Day Parade
human rights.” through Elora saw the introduction of
Three years before that UN declara- “Naida” the water nymph as almost 100
tion, at AMPA 2007, OSSTF/FEESO community members joyfully shared
passed a motion committing that “...no the message of water protection. “Par-
bottled water be purchased or distrib- ticipants carried bolts of blue and green
uted at any OSSTF meetings, trainings cloth, and fanciful fish creating a fanci-
or conferences.” ful river running down the main streets
OSSTF/FEESO Provincial office of Elora to remind onlookers of how im-
ceased bottled water purchases imme- portant clean water is to our community
diately after. Clearly, our Federation has and the need to protect it. This message
been on the cutting edge of promoting was reinforced by signs that encouraged
public access to water as a fundamental people to drink tap water. Friends chant-
human right. ed as they marched to drums, beat boxes
While Nestlé waited, my community and shakers, while onlookers joined to
organized. We began to meet in a local stomp, clap and hoot to the infectious
café, and then moved to the downstairs rhythms. The parade ended with a group
of the local legion, to map out a strategy. photo at the boardwalk in Bissell Park.”
What began as “Friends of Elora Water” (saveourwater.ca)
morphed into “Save Our Water.” A local Not everyone was pleased with this
chapter of the national NGO, Council display of activism, however. Chris Da-
of Canadians, was also founded during Ponte, editor of the local weekly news-
this time, and ongoing work in collabo- paper the Wellington Advertiser, wrote
ration with an existing group, Welling- that the water float “hijacked” the Can-
ton Water Watchers, ensued. ada Day parade, causing a temporary
As public awareness rose, a deeply dissipation of the mood of “patriotism
committed community mobilized. Wa- and revelry.”
ter warriors like Barlow, Mike Nagy Nevertheless, the community per-
(Wellington Water Watchers) and Don- sisted. Initially, the Centre Wellington
na McCaw (District 18, Upper Grand— Town Council seemed unconcerned
TBU, retired) spoke to packed town hall about Nestlé’s plans, apparently be-
meetings, and blue ribbons began to dot lieving that a water bottling operation
the residential landscapes as symbols of would create jobs in the community.
support for “Save Our Water.” Each and This belief, it turns out, was false; the
every Saturday, deeply committed activ- plan was for the water to be trucked out
ists attended the local year-round farm- and bottled in Aberfoyle, in the south-
er’s market to hand out information and ern part of the County.
invite shoppers to sign postcards and The disposition of Council toward the
16 education forum fall 2017Nestlé plan has since changed—quite rent population] so protecting our water
dramatically in fact. In the fall of 2016, sources is critical to us.”
leveraging the Jack R. MacDonald trust A 2016 report from Hunter and As-
(a philanthropic bequest from a former sociates, an environmental and engi-
resident of Elora), the Town Council neering consulting firm, concludes that,
submitted a secret, larger, and uncon- even without Nestlé’s presence, the ex-
ditional offer for the same Middlebrook pected population growth in Centre
property that Nestlé had conditionally Wellington will soon compel the mu-
purchased. Mayor Kelly Linton stated, nicipality to seek out new sources of wa-
“It was a very serious offer we put for- ter. Allowing Nestlé to take large quan-
ward—it was a no conditions attached, tities of water from the Middlebrook
serious money offer, and we knew one of well would not only “restrict the ability
the conditions Nestlé had was the results of the Township to secure an additional
of the pump test. So we weren’t sure if source of water within close proximity
they would agree to purchase the prop- to the municipality,” but would also “re-
erty without getting any results back.” move this water from the aquifer system,
The vendor of the property accept- thereby reducing overall available water
ed this new, anonymous offer forcing in the Elora-Fergus area.”
Nestlé to decide if they would remove Elora, Ontario has become ground
their conditions. Nestlé had stated re- zero in the struggle for better govern-
peatedly that this property was only to ment regulation of groundwater moving
be a “back up well” and not for regu- forward. As a result of public pressure,
lar use. However with the arrival of the the provincial government recently im-
second offer, Nestlé promptly removed posed a two-year moratorium on water-
their conditions raising suspicions that bottling permits. Glen Murray, On-
the property was not just for backup use. tario’s Minister of the Environment at
Nestlé had purchased the property the time, stated on CBC radio that, “...
right out from under the community part of the reason to have the two-year
Town Council, and so began a David moratorium is to give us the runway to
and Goliath story that caught the imagi- hear from people like Maude and oth-
nation of the global media. A firestorm ers on what their best advice is on how
of international headlines ensued: we manage the international regulatory
• Nestlé buys a water source...and dimensions on protecting water today.”
threatens drinking water supplies Much controversy surrounds the op-
from the Canadian city—Het Laatste eration of water bottling practices and
Nieuws (Germany) the impacts of foreign trade agreements
• Petition calls on Canadians to boycott (NAFTA, CETA, TPP etc.). One lo-
Nestlé over water grab—USA Today cal activist group, Wellington Water
• Canadian town steams over Nestlé bid Watchers, has been tirelessly raising
to control local spring water well— awareness and advocating for the pro-
The Guardian tection of ground water sources. Their
Mayor Linton was quoted in The website states:
Guardian as saying, “By 2041, we’ll be “We are concerned the Ontario gov-
closer to 50,000 [almost double the cur- ernment’s support for private water-
17 education forum fall 2017taking by Nestlé Waters Canada con- drinking water needs of local commu-
tributes to the commodification and nities over any pending applications
privatization of water and potentially from commercial bottling companies
our water delivery system. Wellington to acquire groundwater sources.
Water Watchers believes water must stay • 68 per cent support the provincial
in public control. We believe that Water government requiring Nestlé to sell
is for Life, Not for Profit. We honour the Elora well to the Township of
our waters as a commons, not a com- Centre Wellington.
modity to be bought and sold on the • 65 per cent support a permanent
world market.” phase-out of all permits for bottled
The Council of Canadians launched water takings (water bottling opera-
a “Boycott Nestlé” campaign in the fall tions) by the Ontario government.
of 2016, gathering more than 50,000
signatures to date, and continues to No discussion of water is complete
pressure the government to stop issuing without the voices of Indigenous Ca-
bottled water permits. nadians. In a letter to Premier Wynne
In the spring of 2017, the Ontario and the Minister of the Environment
government chose to increase the wa- and Climate Change, the 133 Ontario
ter bottling permit fees from $3.71 per Chiefs in Assembly state that they have
million litres to $500 per million litres. “unanimously rejected all recent Ontario
This move was met with a range of criti- Water Resources Act Regulations,” as well
cism. Emma Lui, Water Campaigner as any efforts “...to take control and
with the Council of Canadians, said, authority over natural waters, be they
“It’s good that the province has taken ground or surface, across the traditional
a step to increase fees, but what people homelands and/or treaty areas, within
across Ontario really want is for bottled the Province of Ontario.”
water takings to be phased out. The new The letter goes on to state: “First Na-
increase only amounts to roughly 1/20 tions’ water rights are explicitly included
of a penny per litre of water that com- in the United Nations Declaration on
panies like Nestlé sell back to the public. the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN-
Severe droughts in recent years mean DRIP), for which the Government of
that we can’t allow water to be taken and Canada has fully endorsed. Article 25:
exported out of watersheds, never to be ‘Indigenous peoples have the right to
returned again. Only a ban—not just an maintain and strengthen their distinc-
increase in fees—will protect vulnerable tive spiritual relationship with their tra-
groundwater that communities rely on ditionally owned or otherwise occupied
for drinking water.” and used lands, territories, water...and
A poll conducted for the Council of to uphold their responsibilities to future
Canadians by Oraclepoll Research sur- generation in this regard.’”
veyed 1,200 respondents between De- While the Boycott Nestlé campaign
cember 8–13, 2016. Its findings demon- continues, my community continues to
strated that: joyfully rally around water protection, as
• 93 per cent support the provincial evidenced by the day-long music festi-
government placing a priority on the val, Waterstock, last June. In the spirit
18 education forum fall 2017of Foodstock and Soupstock events, take water to commercial, for-profit “We never know the worth of wa-
OSSTF/FEESO generously co-spon- bottling companies violates...inherent ter until the well is dry.” Thomas
sored the “Water for Life Not Profit” rights, treaty rights and title and inter- Fuller, 1732
campaign message from Wellington national human rights of First Nations.”
Water Watchers: There is a provincial election com- Diane Ballantyne, M.Ed (D18 TBU)
It’s not just about bottled ing up in the spring of 2018. Now is is co-founder and chair of the Centre
water. the time to ask questions and consider Wellington Chapter of the Council of
Nestlé and other large cor- the values you hold about the future Canadians. She teaches social sci-
porations have exploited out- of our planet and the legacy we leave ences and history at Centre Wellington
dated provincial water taking our children. District High School, Fergus, ON.
bylaws that were originally in-
tended for agricultural and val-
ue-added industrial use. Water
PUBLIC WORKSHOPS COMING TO
is sacred but is becoming rap-
ONTARIO FALL/WINTER 2017-2018
idly commoditized, ‘bottled,’
and shipped around the planet Exceptional Training And Resources - Mental Health, Counselling And Violence Prevention
for great profit, (to return, if
ever, to our watersheds pack-
aged in a piece of plastic.) The
record drought of 2016 high-
lighted the urgency of the situ-
BRIEF FOCUSED COUNSELLING SKILLS
–Strategies from Leading Frameworks
ation and how 2017 is the year Toronto: October 17-18; London: October 18-19; Ottawa: October 19-20
to make a stand for water.
REFUGEES AND TRAUMA–Understanding and Supporting Resilience
Farmers and communities Mississauga: November 1-2
face increasing water uncer-
DE-ESCALATING POTENTIALLY VIOLENT SITUATIONS™
tainty, and recent polls illus- Ottawa: November 7 & March 1; London: November 8 & February 27;
trate the strong support for Toronto: November 9 & February 28; Thunder Bay: November 24
phasing out water permits for CRITICAL INCIDENT GROUP DEBRIEFING
the purposes of bottling. Over Ottawa: November 20; London: November 21; Toronto: November 22
20,000 Ontarians have spo-
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FACILITATOR TRAINING
ken clearly in support for the Toronto: November 27-29
province to take action (edited
RESILIENCE IN CHILDREN–Creative Strategies for Helping
to clarify: commenting on the Mississauga: November 28-29; Ottawa: November 29-30
province’s Environmental Bill
of Rights). It is time to take a
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER–Understanding and Supporting
Ottawa: December 11; Thunder Bay: December 11; London: December 12;
stand and be stewards of our Toronto: December 13
farmlands and aquifers. TRAUMA–Strategies for Resolving the Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress
Ottawa: February 12-13; London: February 13-14; Toronto: February 14-15
Each of us has a responsibility to
TRAIN-THE-TRAINER CERTIFICATION
challenge our desire for convenience –De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations™
and work to ensure that our provincial Toronto: February 28-March 2
government does not choose profit over UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
people. As Shelley Koehler (District 19, IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Peel—TBU) wrote at Waterstock, “Wa- Ottawa: March 5; Toronto: March 5; London: March 6; Thunder Bay: March 7
ter is a necessity of life for all organisms. NARRATIVE THERAPY–Tools for Exploring Stories
There is no value that can be placed on it Toronto: March 19; London: March 22; Ottawa: March 23
as it is priceless.” COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY–Tools for Thinking Differently
We know that billions of litres of Toronto: March 20; London: March 21; Ottawa: March 22; Thunder Bay: March 26
groundwater have already been extracted
on treaty lands “without free, prior and
informed consent,” and if our govern-
ment intends to move forward with a
spirit of true reconciliation, it is essential
to remember that, as the Ontario Chiefs www.ctrinstitute.com 877.353.3205 info@ctrinstitute.com
have stated, “Ontario’s bulk permit to
19 education forum fall 2017A PIVOTAL VICTORY
UN TRIOMPHE
A historical context of the Bill 115 DÉTERMINANT
Charter challenge, and what it
means for the future La perspective historique de la con-
by Bob Fisher
testation judiciaire de la Loi 115 et
ce que cela implique pour l’avenir
On April 20, 2016, Justice Thomas Lederer of the Ontario
Superior Court of Justice issued a decision stating that, dur- par Bob Fisher
ing the process of provincial negotiations between the Gov-
ernment of Ontario and various education sector unions Le 20 avril 2016, le juge Thomas Lederer à la Cour supé-
that occurred in 2011–2012, Ontario had “substantially in- rieure de justice de l’Ontario a rendu une décision dans
terfered with meaningful collective bargaining”, and in do- laquelle il statuait que, durant le processus provincial de
ing so had violated Section 2 (d) of the Canadian Charter of négociation entre le gouvernement de l’Ontario et les di-
Rights and Freedoms. The decision is meaningful to all public vers syndicats du milieu de l’éducation qui s’est déroulé en
sector unions, and those in Ontario in particular, and it is 2011-2012, l’Ontario avait « entravé substantiellement une
important to understand what the decision’s impact might véritable négociation collective » et de ce fait, avait enfreint
be on future provincial negotiations. In order to gain that l’article 2 d) de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés.
understanding, it is helpful to take a look at the process that La décision est significative pour tous les syndicats du sec-
led to the passage of Bill 115 (the Putting Students First Act), teur public, en particulier pour ceux de l’Ontario, et il es-
where the government “went wrong”, and how that might sentiel de bien comprendre les répercussions que la décision
affect the provincial negotiation process going forward. pourrait avoir sur les futures négociations provinciales. Pour
comprendre, il est utile d’examiner le processus qui a mené à
A recent history of government involvement l’adoption de la Loi 115 (Loi donnant la priorité aux élèves) à
in bargaining l’occasion duquel le gouvernement « a mal agi » et de quelle
OSSTF/FEESO is no stranger to the concept of provin- manière cela pourrait affecter le processus de négociation
cial bargaining, or of the Government of Ontario playing provinciale à l’avenir.
some role in negotiations. We have seen it on a number of
occasions in the past quarter-century. Antécédent récent de la participation du gouvernement
In 1993, Bob Rae’s NDP government introduced the So- dans la négociation
cial Contract Act, 1993 SO. 1993. As a result, an “Education Le concept de la négociation provinciale n’est pas incon-
Sector Framework” was established, and some would say nu pour OSSTF/FEESO, pas plus que le rôle joué par le
bargained, provincially. The framework dictated elements gouvernement de l’Ontario dans les négociations. Nous en
that were required to be included in local agreements. Ul- avons été témoins à de nombreuses occasions au cours du
timately, the Social Contract resulted in a three-year wage dernier quart de siècle.
and grid movement freeze for all OSSTF/FEESO members En 1993, le gouvernement néodémocrate de Bob Rae a
between 1993 and 1996, as well as mandatory unpaid days adopté la Loi de 1993 sur le contrat social, L.O. 1993. Par
off, referred to as “Rae Days” at the time. conséquent, un « cadre sectoriel pour l’éducation » a été mis
In 1997, the Harris Conservatives passed Bill 160, the en place et certains diraient qu’il a été négocié à l’échelon
Education Quality Improvement Act, 1997, which made provincial. Le cadre dictait les composants qui devaient obli-
changes to the Education Act, among others. Those changes gatoirement être inclus dans les conventions locales. Fina-
resulted in the requirement that many OSSTF/FEESO Bar- lement, le contrat social s’est traduit par un gel des salaires
gaining Units negotiate significant changes to the workload et de la progression dans l’échelle salariale de trois ans pour
provisions in their collective agreements. More significantly tous les membres d’OSSTF/FEESO entre 1993 et 1996,
in the long term, the Education Quality Improvement Act re- ainsi que par des jours de congé sans solde obligatoires, ap-
moved the ability of local school boards to be self-funded. pelés à l’époque « Journées Rae ».
Artwork: Ronda Allan
The transfer of funding authority to the provincial gov- En 1997, les conservateurs de Mike Harris ont adop-
ernment through Bill 160 ultimately led the education sec- té la Loi 160, Loi de 1997 sur l’amélioration de la quali-
tor to the circumstances that resulted in the Government té de l’éducation, qui a apporté des modifications entre
/continued on page 22 autres à la Loi sur l’éducation. Elles ont entraîné l’exi-
gence pour plusieurs unités de négociation d’OSSTF/
/suite à la page 23
21 education forum fall 2017Vous pouvez aussi lire
