Hundreds march on provincial legislature; police confirm one arrest
Union officials say at least four people were arrested today at a rally calling on the Ontario government to restart contract negotiations at York University.
At least a dozen police cruisers were called in after an apparent confrontation with a police officer as some 200 people marched to the provincial legislature after rallying outside Labour Ministry offices. The march, organized by the union, was briefly stalled before continuing to the legislature.
Police would confirm only one arrest.
Premier Dalton McGuinty recalled the legislature on the weekend to introduce a bill aimed at ending the 12-week strike at Canada’s third-largest university.
The government-backed bill is supported by the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, but the New Democrats oppose it.
That means the legislation may not become law until Thursday, and students will have to wait until next week to return to class.
The union, CUPE Local 3903, says McGuinty should use the time before the bill passes to restart the bargaining process.
Some 50,000 students saw classes cancelled on Nov. 6 when 3,400 teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants walked off the job.
About 5,000 students were able return this week to attend courses taught by tenured professors under a special deal with the university.
– The Canadian Press