Toronto -- The Mike Harris government illegally and unconstitutionally closed southwestern Ontario's only French college, harming the French-speaking communities and violating their constitutional rights, lawyers representing the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the francophone community told the Ontario
Divisional court this week.
Lawyers Annie Berthiaume, Sean McGee and Marc Cousineau, of Nelligan O'Brien Payne, told the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Divisional Court) that the closing of Collège des Grands Lacs (CGL) in 2001 violated minority language rights as established in the Montfort Hospital case. In attendance at the judicial review hearings
were members of the francophone community, former staff members, and OPSEU members.
OPSEU President Leah Casselman was disappointed to see the Liberal government defend the Conservative decision to close the college without proper consultation, particularly as the government argued its case in English. "It seems the Liberals truly wish to be on the wrong side of a landmark decision for francophone rights.
Instead of reversing this Harris misdeed, they rubber-stamped it. For francophones, and for our members, it looks more and more like the Liberal first term is really the third term of the Conservatives."
Casselman also said it was far-fetched to hear Ministry of Colleges and Universities lawyers argue that students at CGL were not getting a proper education because classes were "too small," as part of their rationale.
Three-and-a-half years after the college closed, CGL still exists on paper to pay administrative officers and hire lawyers. "It has probably cost more to close this college than to keep it open," she said.
OPSEU represents faculty and support staff at all of Ontario's community colleges. Delegates at the union's 2002 Convention voted unanimously to support this court challenge.
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For information:
David Cox 416-788-9197
