- [Carla] Good afternoon, and welcome
to the Elementary Teachers Federation
of Ontario Virtual Press Conference.
Before I introduce today's speaker,
I'd like to ask media interested in asking questions
to please indicate so by adding a comment
in the Q&A section of the Zoom.
Please include only your first and last name
and the media outlet you are with.
If you experience technical issues
please use the chat to communicate with staff.
I'd like to now introduce Karen Brown, First Vice President
of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, Karen?
- Thank you, Carla.
Thank you and good afternoon.
Before I begin, I like to acknowledge
that this is a time when many Ontarians are grieving,
scared, and in need of support.
Over the past few weeks, we've read
statement after statement about the horrors
of residential schools and intergenerational trauma
that continues to affect indigenous peoples in this country.
We've also seen statements
denouncing Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia,
and bi-phobia as a result of hate motivated incidents
that have taken place in our communities.
These are dark times for many.
ETFO is deeply concerned
about the increasing levels of hate and violence
perpetuated against many communities
who have been historically marginalized
and continue to be underserved today.
We call on all ETFO members and the public
to denounce all forms of racism and discrimination.
We must continue to fight for justice,
raise awareness, confront and push for action
to eliminate all forms of oppression and violence,
so that everyone feels safe, welcome, and included.
On behalf of ETFO and our 83,000 members we represent,
I'd like to thank you for being with us today
to talk about the Ford government's egregious plan
to invoke the notwithstanding clause.
Their willingness to trample on Ontarians' Charter rights
to ensure their own survival is an attack on democracy.
That should be a concern for everyone.
Earlier this year, the Ford government passed Bill 254,
which restricted political advertising
in the 12 months before the next provincial election.
This was a clear attempt to shield the government
from criticism while also increasing the amount of money
wealthy people could donate to Ford's reelection campaign.
The plan reeks of power and privilege.
This week, the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice
found sections of that legislation,
including the 12-month limit, to be a violation
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
that could not be justified.
As a result, Justice Edward M. Morgan
struck down the restriction.
Justice Morgan's decision
validated our Charter challenge position
and sent a strong message to the Ford government,
rules that drown out government critics
and silence descending voices
have no place in a democracy.
Seemingly Doug Ford disagrees
and believes his reelection is more important
than Ontarians' democratic rights.
He recall the legislature to use the notwithstanding clause
to pass legislation
that violates the Charter Rights and Freedoms,
overwrites court rulings, and shields the government
from any legal challenges.
It is important to note,
the Premier isn't recalling the legislature
to plan for post pandemic recovery,
or for a safe return to school.
He simply recalling the legislature
to shut down descending voices.
This is, put simply, an attack on democracy.
In fact, it is Doug Ford's most flagrant abuse power.
A desperate attempt to shelter himself
from legitimate criticism to try to win the next election.
Ford is choosing to ignore legal avenue of appeal
that is already available to him,
and instead is showing his true colors.
He cares more about his own political future
than protecting the people he was elected to serve.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Executive Director Michael Brandt had this to say
about Ford's plan to vote the notwithstanding clause.
"This cravenly self-interested abuse
"of this extraordinary power.
"The notwithstanding clause,
"which was designed to be a democratic safety valve,
"not a brazen power grab to tilt election rules
"in a government's favor."
This unprecedented attack on democracy
by the Ford government cannot be overstated.
Ford knows that his agenda
to dismantle Ontario's public services,
privatized public education, and continue to reward
his well-connected friends
will not stand up to public scrutiny.
It is clear that Ford's conservative government
are running scared, and they should be.
Based on declining support throughout their term
they have repeatedly failed the people of Ontario.
Negatively affecting the lives of children,
education workers, healthcare workers,
residents in long-term care homes,
families. social service providers,
business owners, the elderlys, I could go on.
Ontarians have the right to hold the government to account
for its failures.
Ford wants to make sure that Ontarians don't hear
from teachers and education workers about the chaos
he has caused in our public schools.
He doesn't want Ontarians to hear from nurses
and PSWs about what his government's actions did
to long-term care residents and staff.
And he doesn't want us to hear from indigenous leaders,
anti-racism organizers, or environmental advocates.
He doesn't want Ontarians to hear
from families of children with autism.
Ford's mishandling of the pandemic
has led to devastating impacts on our communities,
including disproportionate impacts
on members of Indigenous, Black, racialized,
and other communities who continue to be underserved
by this government.
They waited and waited to take action
against COVID-19. and took no steps to implement
paid sick leave.
But this week, they prove just how quickly they can act
when they are motivated by self-interest
and political gain.
Within 24 hours of a court decision
that returned Charter rights to Ontarians,
they took swift action to ensure Ontarians are silenced
in the lead up to the election in June 2022.
Make no mistake,
we are watching carefully,
taking notes and committed to fighting for democracy.
Our fight is an important one,
and we will continue to do everything we can to advocate
for a publicly funded education system
that is student-centered, equitable, and adequately funded.
My message to Ontarians is this,
Ford can pass legislation
that tramples on our democratic Charter rights
but he will not silence us.
Trust us when we say, "We will not be muted."
We will hold Ford's conservative government to account.
On June second, 2022,
Doug Ford will not escape the judgment of Ontarians.
We can replace this government that works for the few
and well connected with one that works for all Ontarians.
A government that believes in the public good.
A government that believes in public education.
The work to remove Ford from office starts now.
Please join us BuildingBetterSchools.ca, thank you.
- [Carla] Thank you, Karen.
We'd now like to open the floor to questions
from members of the media who arrived
after I've provided some instructions.
You can please leave your first name and your last name
and the media outlet that you're with
in the Q&A area of the Zoom if you have a question.
Please remember to unmute yourselves
as you are introduced by me.
Our first question is from Kris Rushowy
at the Toronto Star, Kris.
- [Kris] Hi there, I just wanted to know
if there's anything that you plan to do
or can do once the notwithstanding clause is invoked?
- Hi Kris, right now we are exploring our legal options,
what's available to us in regards to a legal challenge.
But when the clause is invoked
we will be mobilizing our membership.
We'll be connecting with our members on a regular basis.
We've done that process
through newsletters, through meetings.
We'll continue to do that.
We will work with the communities to mobilize
to defeat this government.
- [Carla] Kris, do you have a follow-up question?
- [Kris] Yes, I just wanted to ask you
if you've been hearing from members about the use
of the notwithstanding clause,
and what they think of it?
- Absolutely, our members are just infuriated
by this absolute abuse of power,
this overriding extension of a democratic process,
ignoring the courts, they're upset.
We went through a process that upheld that we had
the right to engage in this process.
And this government is missabusing their power.
It's a flagrant abuse of power.
And our members are upset that they're not using
the legal avenues that are available
to every other member of Ontario.
They're using their power as being in government
to override the democratic rights of our members,
of all Ontarians,
and all Ontarians should be concerned, not just our members.
I'm hearing these conversations
as I'm walking down the street.
I'm on the subway, I'm hearing people talking about
what is this notwithstanding clause.
And it should be a concern for every Ontarian
when our democratic rights are being trampled
by our government.
- [Carla] Just opening up the floor
to any additional questions.
And we'll just wait a couple of seconds
to see if any other additional questions come through.
Members of the media, if you'd like to just ask a question
without entering your name into the Q&A,
you're welcome to do that now.
- [Lorenda] Hi, Karen, it's Lorenda Reddekopp with CBC.
Can you hear me? - Hi-
- [Carla] Yes, we can.
Go ahead, Lorenda, thank you.
- [Lorenda] Do you have a sense of how much
you do spends on this pre-election and advertising.
- Hi, Lorenda.
Thank you for that question.
Limits were set and were in place,
and we were working within those limits.
What we've seen this government do
is extend restrictions that are
that benefit the government,
and does not put the process and the integrity
of the process in a balanced way.
So ETFO, like all other organizations
who engage in members of the public,
families, teachers, personal support workers who've,
groups that want to comment around issues
that are related, campaign issues,
issues around public health, around education.
around the environment have been following along with it,
with the guidelines and the limits.
You know, we're established and we agree
there should be limits.
And we've worked within those limits
but this premier has abused his power.
And has shifted that limit to an advantage
of the government.
- [Carla] Lorenda, do you have a follow up?
- [Lorenda] Yeah, I just wanted to clarify.
So doubling that time though,
like how much would that affect you?
- It's about restricting the conversation.
It's about restricting that healthy dialogue,
the robust dialogue, that democratic dialogue
that has allowed a year up to an election period.
That dialogue has been restricted.
Before you had a six month opportunity,
now it's within a year
that we can't really engage the community,
Ontarians around the key issues.
This government does not wanna be held accountable
to it's failures.
It's failures with healthcare,
it's failures with education,
it's failures with the pandemic,
its failures around paid sick days.
And by extending this window it removes our democratic right
to have those conversations,
to have those legitimate debates,
and every Ontarian should be concerned.
Why are we being muzzled?
Why aren't we able to have these conversations?
Why are they trying to silence our voice?
It's part of the democratic process to highlight issues
that are concerned of Ontarians,
and this restricts our ability to do that.
- [Clara] Opening up the floor to any additional questions
from members of the media.
Hearing and seeing none.
This concludes the question period, Karen?
- Before we end on behalf of ETFO,
I like to extend best wishes
to all educators and education workers in Ontario
for a well-deserved, safe and restful break this summer.
You've gone to extraordinary lengths
to ensure continuity of learning
despite all the disruptions,
and prioritized your students' safety and care
during a very challenging time.
Your efforts are noticed, valued, and to be applauded.
Thank you all for joining us today.
(uplifting instrumental music)