Opening Statement



Sunday 30 December 2012

Education Ontario 2012: Final Daze!

["None Dare Call It Betrayal 2" Posted below]

December 30th - 31 2012

If I get a chance I'm going to do a "best of" blog list of my top 10 most read of the year with synopsis and links. I did that last year too. In the meantime teacher news has been very slow to non existent over Christmas, the calm before the storm until after midnight December 31 when Bill 115 is to come into effect. Here's just a few tidbits in the meantime, for anyone who's a news junkie like me. 



Who got coal in his stocking?!? McGuinty: Naughty not nice!

Regretfully News Years Eve doesn't leave us with much hope for the teacher crisis except that it will spiral after the MOE deadline of 11:59 tonight. Nothing has changed. We will probably have to wait until MOE Broten's news conference on Thursday to learn much more. Relax and enjoy yourself til then. Right now we are looking at a very busy protest year ahead!

The latest updated news report on Broten plans as of Dec.31. See: What next?!?

Ditto: Global Toronto News reports: Nada New

Earlier: MOE Broten announces tentative deal reached with 55,000 CUPE education workers. She reminds other unions to get busy before midnight Monday. Minister extends period for CUPE members to ratify contract by 2 weeks. Leadership will meet to ratify first on Jan. 5th, with membership vote to follow during the extended time period. Broten says she will discuss what she is going to do about the other unions on Jan. 3rd. More details will be announced then. CUPE details to follow leadership vote. Whoa!

For the MOE statement on the agreement see: MOE News Release

For the CUPE announcement see: CUPE News Release

First news reports: In the news

The countdown to MOE Broten's Thurs. Jan 3 news conference begins. What will she do about ETFO + OSSTF? The story as of late: MOE News Conference On Jan 3

Here's another account of the impending showdown. OSSTF's President Coran comments on a discussion with Broten before Christmas: Showdown time

Commentary: This certainly doesn't help OSSTF or ETFO as far as I can see. I'm disappointed OECTA rushed to sign our MOU July 5th without a membership vote. Then forced snap membership votes on the local contracts with little time to properly review, consider or discuss the details so they would be signed sealed and delivered to the Minister in time for December 31st. The old "gun to the head" argument wears thin. The short shrift given to a reasonable democratic process and proper respect for the OECTA membership participation in the decision making process is extremely disturbing. What was the hurry? Run rabbit run??? See my blogon OECTA TSU's rushed last minute ratification vote!


CUPE deal: Leaders + members given 2 week extension to ratify! Why the OECTA rush?!?

Premier Dalton McGuinty: Rex Murphy names him worst politician of the year: National Post

Steve Paikin considers McGuinty resignation the Ontario politics news story of the year. Notes the upsets this year but also acknowledges his many accomplishments up until now: Ottawa Citizen

Sun News spotlights PC Education Critic Lisa McLeod as she relishes the idea that the Liberals education problems with teachers will continue well into the New Year because they are not tough enough: Sun News

Top education news story goes to falling out between Liberals and teachers. Hard to think that a year ago from today it was a totally different reality.Here's an overview: Durham 

In Circulation: A transcript of OECTA President Kevin O'Dwyer at the Ontario Standing Committee on Social policy Sept. 6 speaking on the MOU, Catholic school boards and an interesting quote about fattening calfs. Check this out:  QP Transcript

Here is a video and text of ETFO President Hammond's Dec 21st peace offering, turned down by the MOE only hours later. One hour of negotiations to date didn't fly with her. However Kennedy and Hoskins had been making similar overtures. IMHO that would be the only real prospect for any labour peace this winter. Guess we will just have to wait to see what happens in the new year. See: ETFO Offer

Raise the Hammer begins a new "Rate My Government" series. Dunno anything about this site + how it will go, but it is a neat idea. See: Ratings?

While we are on the topic check out A@WOL radio's "Smash the State" podcast report. Now 4 something completely different than the Corporate daily news. If you like it there is also a link here 4 more: Smash the State Podcast


OLP Education Platforms? Kennedy + Hoskins have extended olive branch to teachers. Hoskins voted 4 Bill 115. Kennedy wasn't there. Others: from hostile to silent + non specific/ non committal.

Compare the OLP leadership hopefuls education platforms. Slim teacher pickings except perhaps for Kennedy + Hoskins: Peace plans + truce. Wynne plays coy. Poopy hasn't figured it out yet. Murray + Sousa MIA [missing in action.] Takhar plans big education spending cuts to reduce deficit quicker. See for yourself: OLP Education platforms

Kathleen Wynne lays out her progressive education plan for Ontario's schools but is still non specific/ nothing concrete on how she would fix the present mess. Lots of teachers liked Wynne and for good reason, myself included. Problem now is she voted 4 Bill 115. An irreconcilable difference, especially when she is playing it so safe to both sides of the party centre? Dunno Kathleen, I doubt you can have it both ways with teacher tensions so red hot. IMHO outside of the OECTA leadership most teachers will be screaming for Liberal blood come next election unless a real game changer happens real soon. Even then? See: Wynne 2 Win?

Education in Ontario now faces years of uncertainty. See video: The years ahead?

Other news:

New Years Eve in Vegas: sounds like they are trying to steal the show. Wonder if Mayor Rob Ford will be onstage at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto? Ho boy! Janet and I went to a New Years Eve party last night with all our friends who are just going to stay home New Years Eve. Come midnight we raised a toast. Was pretty funny and we had a great time. Got home real real late. Will space out at home 4 New Years Eve. Meanwhile in Vegas?

Time lapse photography: a day on the life of Toronto: the city Ontario [OK. what the heck -Canada!] loves to hate. Hey it's my hometown! No making fun of us! :-) See: City Rising


Don't try to hide Sir Paulie! We know it was you!

I don't know about you but I haven't had a good night sleep since the Beatles broke up! Why? Was it Yoko's fault like many thought? Now Yoko tells all: It was Paul McCartney. He wanted to turn the band into Beatles Lite with all his silly love songs!  OMG! See: Beatle Break up         

Here's the full list of the 2012 Order of Canada Inductees: Order of Canada

Thank God somebody has finally done a sociological study of dancing Gangnam style as a pop cultural phenomenon in the global village: Sociological Study on Dancing Gangnam Style

Asian's hot, Caucasian's not! Start practicing now so you can be the life of the party dancing stark raving nekid Gangnam style tonight on the bar with a lampshade over your head. Practice steps below:



Afterwards retire and head off into the sunset in British Columbia where nobody will recognize you, with or without the lampshade! ;-) It also has the longest life expectancy in Canada by about 3 months [but what a 3 three months!]. Just pray our pension plan doesn't get mangled on the chopping bloc this year.  BC Sunset
comes next in 2013. See: BC Sunset

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Something is fishy here!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I have a Question: Hypothetically, if Kevin O'Dwyer loses at the AGM and is not re-elected as OECTA Provincial President, does he go directly back to the classroom to live under the MOU terms that he negotiated? Signed Curious George from OECTA.

Anonymous said...

A Rallying Cry for ALL Ontario Teachers

Even though large portions of are collective agreements have either been stripped from our hands or are on the verge of being so, WE SHOULD NOT FALTER. We should go to the end. We should stand our ground in our schools and in our communities. We should continue to fight with growing confidence and growing strength derived from our conviction that we are fighting for what is RIGHT. We should defend our rights and the rights of all Ontarians, whatever the cost may be. We should NEVER surrender and continue to fight until the time comes that victory is ours. Solidarity forever!

Kulture Kult Ink said...

Hi Curious George! My guess would be probably, though as Past President he would still be on executive, and could apply for other positions. Past President is not a release position though. So he would probably be back at school but in and out all the time, doing two jobs; school and union.

Anonymous said...

I read Wynne's education plan. Two important take aways for Catholic teachers to consider. 1) She is talking about merging school systems. 2) She is talking about removing the right to strike.

Anonymous said...

The Liberals deserve to be sent packing. Vote NDP!

Anonymous said...

I don't like Wynne. Will she go after Catholic education and try again to impose her inclusive sex education curriculum? She didn't like Hariss' "my way or the higway" politics, but look at her now. Shame on any teacher who works on her re-election campaign.

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