[LabComm] NDP urges government to end dispute with emergency motion

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

NDP urges government to end dispute with emergency motion



VICTORIA - The NDP Caucus introduced an emergency motion Monday afternoon in an effort to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute between the government and BC's teachers, Opposition House Leader Mike Farnworth said today.

"The Opposition put forward a motion to suspend regular business in the Legislature to allow for a comprehensive debate on the government's role in the teachers dispute," said Farnworth. "Every single day the job action continues is another difficult day for British Columbia students, parents and teachers. The government has a responsibility to sit down with teachers and negotiate a new agreement. The emergency debate would have allowed MLAs to express the deep concern all parties have about this ongoing crisis and press government to take action."

Just before the House concluded business for Monday's dinner break, the Speaker ruled that the urgency of the issue had not been established and ruled against the motion.

"Unfortunately, the motion was not able to pass certain parliamentary tests and we respect the Speaker's ruling," said Farnworth. "The ruling, however, does not change the urgency teachers, students and parents are feeling across BC."

Education critic John Horgan added that the Premier must show commitment and leadership today to end the dispute.

"This is a crisis of the government's making," said Horgan. "Premier Campbell has refused to take any responsibility for this situation. He ripped up collective agreements, overturned a BC Supreme Court ruling and abdicated his government's responsibility to negotiate a fair settlement to improve learning conditions in classrooms. He has to take responsibility for his role in this crisis and take steps today to get our children back into the schools. 

"His government negotiated with the Hospital Employees Union in 2004 during similar job action and he must do it now," said Horgan. "BC students have already lost millions of education days because of the Premier's lack of leadership. He can prevent them from losing any more."

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