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Education workers hold Solidarity Saturday

November 14, 2022

Education workers might be back in the classroom but they are still keeping the pressure on Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative government to rescind Bill 28 and negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members.

Dubbed Solidarity Saturday, protests were held at the constituency offices of Progressive Conservative MPPs on Nov. 12. Over 150 were marching in front of the constituency office of Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey on Christina Street in Point Edward. Joining the CUPE members were representatives from the teacher unions, the correctional workers and UNIFOR.

“We are standing by, not standing down,” said Michele Lalonge-Davey, president of CUPE Local 1238.

The Ford government is expected to today rescind Bill 28, Keeping Students in Class Act, which imposed a contract on CUPE members and made any strike illegal. It also enacted the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect against any constitutional challenges.

Education workers, which include education assistants, early childhood educators, school secretaries, computer technicians, librarians and custodians, went back to work on Tuesday, Nov. 8 after keeping schools closed for two days. Ford promised to go back to the negotiating table if CUPE stopped its walkout.

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All Canadian Clash in Gold Medal Game At U17 World Challenge

November 9, 2024

John Wright/The Independent For the first time since 2009, two Canadian teams will meet in the gold medal game of the U17 World Challenge. Canada White beat Sweden 6-4 in the first semifinal Friday in Sarnia. Mathis Preston led the way offensively recording a hat trick and an assist. Special teams continued to a big part of Canada White’s success

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Flyers snap losing skid

November 8, 2024

The Petrolia Flyers snapped a mini two game losing skid by beating Lucan, 10-1 Thursday at the Greenwood Recreation Centre. Owen Peters and Andrew Jaques led the winners with four points each. Peters had two goals and two assists and Jaques scored once and added three helpers. Evan Morningstar also scored twice for Petrolia. Parker Davidson, Logan O’Leary-Dilosa, Noel Sanderson,

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Lancers win Lambton-Kent volleyball titles

November 8, 2024

LCCVI has claimed both the Junior and Senior boys Lambton-Kent volleyball titles. In the Senior game, LCCVI beat John McGregor 3-0, winning the sets 25-19, 25-22 and 25-16 at home. The Juniors defeated the Wolfpack at Great Lakes 3-0. The Lancers won the sets 25-14, 25-18 and 35-14.

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Two buildings destroyed in Marthaville fire

November 8, 2024

Two buildings were destroyed and at least two more were heavily damaged in a Marthaville fire. Petrolia/North Enniskillen firefighters were called to Prince Street, just off Lasalle Line around 3 pm Friday. When firefighters arrived, two people were on the property with a hydro wire arching overhead, according to Fire Chief Rick Cousins. The pair left the property as high

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