FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 2001

OPSEU asks for a court injunction to keep Collège des Grands Lacs open

TORONTO – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) asked today for a court injunction to keep Toronto’s only francophone college open.

The union and its lawyers believe Collège des Grands Lacs, as an institution serving an important linguistic minority, is protected by the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights. The francophone community had made similar arguments successfully in order to keep Montfort Hospital in Ottawa open.

The injunction is intended to stop the college from being dismantled until the court can decide on the constitutional merits of the case. “We believe we have to stop the process now before it is too late,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.

Casselman will be joining staff, students and members of the francophone community in an information picket on Tuesday October 23 in front of the college’s last remaining campus to speak out against the administration’s illegal closure.

Julie Gigliotti, President of OPSEU Local 272 representing the college staff, explained that the administration left the union with no choice. “We tried to negotiate with the administration, but they had no intention of changing their minds,” she said.

The college’s board of directors reconfirmed its decision to close the institution in another behind closed doors meeting on Wednesday October 17. Several members of the community attempted without success to attend the meeting.

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For more information, contact:

David Cox, OPSEU Communications: 416-443-8888 x 314
Julie Gigliotti, President, Local 272: 416-599-5090 x5299