THUNDER BAY - The process for how teachers are hired in Ontario is changing after the provincial government announced it will be revoking the regulation that stipulates hiring be based on seniority.
On Thursday, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced the provincial government is revoking Regulation 274 of the Education Act, which states teachers are hired based on seniority.
“For decades Ontario has hired educators based on seniority,” Lecce said during a media conference on Thursday. “It did not serve our students well. In fact it undermined our students.”
“The revocation of this regressive regulation will allow students and parents and innovative educators to usher in a new wave of opportunities that restores a meritocracy when it comes to promoting and hiring the very best educators for your child.”
Hiring and promotion will now be based on merit, diversity, and the needs of the classroom as determined by the principal of the school.
Lecce added that there has been a growing need for teachers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but school boards have been hindered by Regulation 274.
“We are in the midst of a global pandemic. Schools need teachers and teachers need schools,” he said.
“We right now have undertaken a pretty significant commitment to hiring new educators. One of the consistent refrains I hear from school boards is this regulation more than it ever did is impeding the ability to hire.”
When asked why the revocation was not brought forward during collective bargaining agreements with teachers unions, Lecce said in the context of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, 35 per cent of members were committed to moving to a merit based hiring system.
“We will continue to make the case to get to 100 per cent,” he said. “In the public school boards, what was written in the collective agreement, we retain the right to rescind or abolish a regulation. We are exercising that right.”
The revocation of Regulation 274 will take effect on Oct. 29, 2020.
