Minister Grilled Union Leaders at School Bill Hearing

0:00It's April 27. This is Canada News today, your AI-powered local news. Public hearings kicked off on Monday for Bill 101 in Ontario. This bill sets up a chief education officer for English public and Catholic school boards. The officer would handle budgets and co-sign big decisions by trustees. Trustees hire the officer, but only the education minister can fire them or settle disputes, handing more power to the government. He's got heated when minister Paul Kalandra testified on why the bills needed. Then he surprised everyone by sitting with government members and grilling two union leaders. He straight up asked Joe Tagani, head of a group for 57,000 education workers. If he's even qualified to run a school board like a chief, officer. Opposition members were floored. NDP critic Chandra Pazma said she's never seen a cabinet minister stick around to attack witnesses like that. Green MPP Aisling Clancy called it, shocking and anti-democratic, saying they should consult stakeholders, not grill them.

1:01Liberal John Fraser labelled it inappropriate, like attacking teachers instead of defending the bill. Tagani fired back too, calling Kalandra's tone rude and disrespectful to workers and parents. Kalandra defended himself, saying as an MPP, he can question differing views. That's the point of committees. You can't silence a cabinet minister. The bill looks set to pass soon, probably unchanged, ramping up provincial oversight on school boards, just like that.