Things got a little tense between Ontario’s teacher unions and Labour Minister and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton following a virtual sit down last Monday.
In a joint update released by the unions, they said the meeting produced “no firm commitment” to address allegations that the province’s school reopening plan violates the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
When asked by myFM about how the meeting unfolded and to respond to the allegations, McNaughton said the role of his ministry is a neutral one, and to protect Ontario workers, which he says they’re doing.
The unions asked the Ministry of Labour to release a series of workplace orders to set safety standards in schools.
They also asked for class sizes to be reduced to between 15 and 20 students to ensure the two metre distance can be maintained in a classroom. McNaughton said he’s not going to speak on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
