Husband and father. Educator, unionist, activist, ally. Pragmatist who likes truth. Working for positive change, my kids deserve a better 🌎Views are my own.
Very sad to see so much hate and fear in the world today. People showing the ugliness within. And the pride and passion behind the hate.
Be kinder people. Take a deep breath.
Chill. Listen. Learn. Grow.
A thread on my thoughts…
I asked Premier Ford how he felt about the Greenbelt demonstration in front of
#FordFest
, he said he doesn’t worry about people being “bussed in.” Then a protester who got into the festival took over for a tense one-on-one.
@CityNewsTO
$4000-$7000 per classroom. Thats how much money Lecce is giving to parents.
Money that could have been used for supplies, resources, technology, space heaters or air conditioners,
It was an incredible afternoon, seeing hundreds of protestors come out to
#FraudFest
and let
@fordnation
know we are tired of his lies, corruption and the damage he is doing to our province.
Amazing to see so many different groups stand united and say
#EnoughIsEnough
.
1/
Ontario is facing an unprecedented shortage of occasional teachers.
Allowing retired teachers to work more is not a solution.
Allowing unqualified adults into classrooms to “teach” is not a solution and is harmful.
@Sflecce
&
@fordnation
…
find solutions, not bandaids.
#onted
@PCPressOffice
@OntarioNDP
PC Bills 124 and 254 were both found to be unconstitutional… she voted no on both
PC bills 307 and 28 using notwithstanding clause to remove charter rights… she voted no to both
PC bill 23 to pave parts of the greenbelt… she voted no
I thank
@maritstiles
for voting no 👏🏼
The
@Sflecce
campaign is in full swing.
Tweets in last 10 days
Soccer✅
Seniors’ taxes✅
#NonnasForLecce
✅✅✅
Eid✅
Gas tax✅
Schools0️⃣
Students0️⃣
Anything re: Education0️⃣
These are our Minister of Education’s priorities?!?
🤦🏻♂️😢😡
#onted
#onpoli
#VoteThemAllOut2022
@osbcucscso
This is shameful…
The government knows parents will be scrambling for childcare because of the closure, and is preventing access to child care centres
The govt is deliberately making this harder on parents, particularly parents unable to take time off or work from home
@ColinDMello
@Mikeggibbs
So… Doug Ford threatens “dont force my hand”… says “please I’m begging…”
Then at the negotiating table, doesn’t even BOTHER to try, shows up without ANY kind of counter, makes ZERO effort to find middle ground?🤦🏻♂️
💯
@fordnation
failing
I stand with ed workers ✊🏽💜
#onted
A huge thanks to everybody from the
@wrlabourcouncil
for all they did to make this happen. Thanks to
@OFL
for coming, and the groups I forgot. Not to mention all the individuals just fed up with everything Doug Ford is doing wrong.
#FordFailedOntario
#EnoughIsEnough
Amazing to see faculty and TA/RAs from UW, Laurier and Conestoga college all come out.
Ford isnt just hurting public schools, he is failing education at all levels.
3/
@DanyaalRaza
@mmegalea
@fordnation
@Sflecce
The person I spoke with was patient, could clearly hear them typing out my points. Dont attack them, our anger is at Ford.
If we cant stop the bill we can swamp their phones to make our displeasure heard. Next up, how can we also be seen?
This is not ok.
#onlab
#onted
2/2
@OntarioHealthC
came out, as well as several community groups upset at the attacks on our healthcare system, attacks on
@ontarionurses
, ER closures, and the privatization of services which will cost us all more, and serve us less.
4/
When bill 98 passes it will open the door for the Ford govt to “reallocate” school board properties.
When public schools start being leased or sold to charter schools in a year or two, get ready for a general strike.
Not one school sold without a fight.
#onted
#onpoli
Several environmental groups came out to protest. And there were many people who were not environmentalists, but were just here because they were disgusted with the blatant corruption and helping developers and his donors make billions by destroying our greenbelt.
/5
Supporters of Universal Basic Income came out, as well as ODSP advocates. We all know Doug Ford doesnt care about people struggling with poverty. He is failing these Ontarians too, when all they want is to live and be shown a little respect.
7/
@ColinDMello
Interesting…
@fordnation
knew last year, but somehow 360,000 people were not notified before the election. And in the fall, while watching his ratings plummet as a result of healthcare and education, silence.
But start a 10 week vacation, and here is the news NOW?!?
#onpoli
I do not understand the surprise out there in the twitterverse. The govt WANTED CUPE to strike. This was the plan. They made it clear they would legislate them back to work, they made it clear they wont bargain fairly. They forced CUPEs hand, and got exactly what they wanted 😔
Kitchener-Centre candidates
@dchapmanNDP
,
@voteclancy
and
@KellySteiss
were all here listening to the people of Kitchener Waterloo, meeting with us, speaking to us.
The PC party… doesnt even have a candidate.
It was very clear, the PCs arent connected to our community.
9/
@BobRae48
@BobRae48
:
“The situation is a humanitarian disaster… Everything must be done in all circumstances to save lives”
Also
@BobRae48
:
We abstain on this motion to temporarily stop killing people because we don’t like how its worded.
@DanyaalRaza
@mmegalea
@fordnation
@Sflecce
Called. Waited a few minutes. Clearly spoke to bargaining rights and labour law, SBCBA including the steps to resolve impasse, the inappropriate use of the notwithstanding clause, the civics lesson we provide kids that govt doesnt need to follow laws, not being “for workers”.
1/
@ColinDMello
In the final ballot of the 2018 PC leadership race, Christine Elliott had more votes than Ford (51.7% vs 48.2%) and he only won leadership because of a weighted points system that gave him more points from previous ballots. That was a “heck of a race”… the loser won.
Housing advocates came out, from ACORN (help protect tenants from greedy & bad landlords) as well as advocates for the unhoused.
People need affordable housing, not multiple million dollar mansions by the new Bradford bypass.
/6
@Sflecce
Coming from the Minister of Education responsible for cancelling updates to the curriculum in order to keep indigenous history away from classrooms.
Literally one of the first things you did, a priority apparently. It’s a bad look to choose
#OrangeShirtDay
for lies.
#LyingLecce
Busy afternoon at 2 pickets in Elmira and Kitchener. Amazing to see all the support for
@osbcucscso
on the line.
Plus support from cars was HUGE.
Teachers, trustees, retirees, steel workers, nurses, postal workers, carpenters, machinists, food workers, and other unions groups
1/
@ColinDMello
Dear
@fordnation
,
I dare you to say “Dont force my hand again” at this news conference. I double dare you.
You’re not just bullying 55,000, you’re attacking the protected worker rights of millions.
#ThugFord
… we noticed
#RepealBill28
… or resign
Sincerely,
One of millions
Bad week for
#LyingLecce
1️⃣admits RESEARCH shows CLASS SIZE MATTERS
2️⃣admits e-learning is NOT good for all students
3️⃣interview goes wrong when asked to actually answer questions
4️⃣leaked doc shows elearning is for govt revenue, not kids learning
#cutshurtkids
#onted
#onpoli
After months advocating a hike to secondary class size from 22:1 to 28:1,
@Sflecce
let slip that maybe the research on this topic supports the view that class size really does matter.
I totally agree. Smaller class sizes are the right thing to do for students.
#onpoli
#onted
Wishing all the parents w sick kids out there good luck. I feel you.
Shortage of hospital beds and meds for kids, its scary.
@SylviaJonesMPP
&
@fordnation
hide and do nothing.
Another issue where we need action, but over and over the govt fails us
#FordFailedOntario
#onhealth
A growing struggle to help some of the youngest patients battle an especially tough start to seasonal sicknesses is impacting some Waterloo region families.
@brianlilley
Wanting an ECE in every class is not about money… it’s about the kids.
Wanting kids with special needs to have support for their entire school day rather than just a fraction of their day… it’s about the kids
Your spin wont work… CUPE wants to protect kids from govt cuts.
@Sflecce
@osbcucscso
wants an ECE in every kindergarten class to help our youngest students
@sflecce
is refusing to invest in these kids
#CUPE
wants more EAs for students needing supports and for safer schools
#LyingLecce
is opposing these supports for kids and schools
#IStandWithCUPE
💜
How do I explain to my daughter why I am crying?
How do I explain that Canada is allowing genocide? Again.
How do I tell her I see images of Palestinian children in pieces and try to imagine what if that was me, what if it was her?
Then I give her a big hug, and cry some more
@Dean_Winnipeg
Of course Lich and Barber want the trial to be heard in a way it can seem like a victimless crime. Victims have a right to be heard.
I want balcony man to testify. I believe he would speak his truth.
@krushowy
@osbcucscso
Reporters should mention the cause…
the government refused to continue negotiations today & failed to provide a counter offer.
When the govt refuses to talk, the union had no other options available to them.
This opens the door to job action, it is not a countdown to strike.
Despite knowing that today will bring significant announcements, I actually feel better today than yesterday.
Action is coming, voices of the province will be heard, oppression will be countered.
People matter. Rights matter.
Off to the line…
#IStandWithCUPE
#GeneralStrikeON
This boggles my mind.😳🤮🤯
She is running for school board trustee in Ottawa, however…
Many
@WRDSB
trustee candidates embrace her support, AND ALSO support her and amplify her voice… very often.
#blacklivesmatter
#StopHate
I don’t want trustees who support this racism.
@JBradshaw01
@Sflecce
That is correct.
Cutting funding, then underspending even more. Forcing boards to run deficits depleting reserves. Save billions and pat himself on back, and fix schools by giving money to parents.
And… reducing real wages and insulting ed workers to help staffing shortage.
😈
@ONT_Dad
The language does not exist, because extended closures were never a thing. The pandemic changed everything, where we accepted online teaching even though not explicitly required. This opened the door to boards also changing snow day policies to include remote.
Its a grey area
@Sflecce
You reaffirm you commitment to reconciliation? How have you ever showed that?
I understand you felt a tweet today was mandatory. But you could have just done a selfie in tight pants and an orange shirt. Disingenuous yes, but not a blatant lie.
Shameful
@StephenPunwasi
I dont think enough of the public understands that the PC plan for 20+ years has been to privatize by intentionally destroying the public system. Just like Snobellen, Lecce is trying to manufacture a crisis rather than help the system.
#FireLecce
@CFifeKW
I’m crying from laughing so hard.
PC Minister
@PBethlenfalvy
“I dont know what kind of math they are teaching in Waterloo…”
@maritstiles
“They are teaching Quantum Physics”
Ouch. 🤦🏻♂️🤣
It is very disheartening to see so many candidates and trustees continuing to attack teachers on
#WorldTeachersDay
Please vote for people who support the ed system, not attack it
The irony of
@Sflecce
tweeting his thanks less than 24 hrs after attacking teachers also 🤮
#onted
Seeing 500,000 people at the rally in London gave me hope.
But what managed to actually bring me a smile today? Learning about kids holding online rallies in Roblox.❤️
There are many ways to come together or show support.
Don’t be silent.
#StopGenocide
#FreePalestine
✊🏽🇵🇸
Privatization of education and healthcare can’t be allowed.
Hurts the students, sick, poor, & marginalized. Also hurts workers, all to benefit companies and shareholders.
It’s about greed, not choice.
We need a strong public system.
#FearTheFordFuture
#onpoli
#onted
#ONhealth
@JoshuaPHilll
@AcrossHerTable
If Joe Biden has no notion if Palestinians are telling the truth, he should listen to any of the several
@UN
officials speaking on the situation including Secretary General
@antonioguterres
or any of the UN officials inside Gaza.
He knows the war crimes are happening
🙈🙉🙊
Govt cutting disability by 1/3 is not “reasonable”.🤦🏼♂️
THEN saying
@osbcucscso
workers using disability is excessive “absenteeism”?!?😡🤮
@Sflecce
, learn the definition.🔍📚
Enough lies and insults about education workers, just treat them with respect.🙏🏻
100% for
#cupestrike
✊🏽
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says there is a “credible pathway” to a deal with the union representing 55,000 school support staff — but says CUPE needs to be “reasonable” at the bargaining table.
@AmandaBorck2
@CP24
For those who are obviously uninformed, all of the major labour unions and the OFL were the leaders in the campaign to increase the minimum wage for everybody including non-union members…
Because it is the right thing to do.
All people deserve living wages.
@PCPressOffice
The PC party is scared, and justifiably so. Even though the next election isnt until 2026, 4 years before the election they are already trying to make it seem
@maritstiles
wasn’t the clear best choice.
If I were them, I would be worried about
@fordnation
having to debate her too.
Nice to see boards be proactive in announcing shutdowns for tomorrow rather than have families scrambling in the morning with short notice & bad weather on the last day before break.
@HaltonDSB
@YRDSB
@ugdsb
@OCDSB
all closed tomorrow, plus more.
Hoping more do the same
#onted
Update after 11 days.
2 new tweets today, still none on education.
-Fundraising for an underfunded hospital ✅
-Gas tax✅
-Education 0️⃣
Our Minister for Education is running a campaign designed to avoid talking about his job.
#FireLecce
#VoteThemAllOut2022
#onpoli
#onted
The
@Sflecce
campaign is in full swing.
Tweets in last 10 days
Soccer✅
Seniors’ taxes✅
#NonnasForLecce
✅✅✅
Eid✅
Gas tax✅
Schools0️⃣
Students0️⃣
Anything re: Education0️⃣
These are our Minister of Education’s priorities?!?
🤦🏻♂️😢😡
#onted
#onpoli
#VoteThemAllOut2022
@StefanM411
Actually I tried to stay back because i wanted to look him in the face rather than speaking directly into his ear. We were shaking hands, comfortably, that angle doesn’t show that. I made sure not to spill my Pepsi on him. Spoke only as loud as I needed to be heard over the band.
@PCPressOffice
I denounce and reject the government passing legislation that removes protected worker rights. Shameful. Disgusting. Truly horrible people bullying those earning the least
I support
@osbcucscso
continuing with their planned walkout
100% I Stand with ed workers
#39kIsNotEnough
✊🏽
Since 2020 the parental rights movement has gained traction.
A review of their shifting concerns over time since 2020:
👉🏽masks
👉🏽vaccines
👉🏽critical race theory
👉🏽pronouns
👉🏽bathrooms
👉🏽age appropriateness
👉🏽drag story time
👉🏽topic exemptions
👉🏽girls sports
👉🏽confidentiality
Municipal elections are coming up, including trustees. Many are making this an issue about politics and ideology, when that debate was settled long ago.
Gender identity is a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, which School Boards follow.
Don’t like it?
Tough.
@ColinDMello
Goodbye protected rights. 😔
In 30-40 years, history and civics lessons in Ontario and across the country will look to our governments actions today. 😔
I kind of wish my MP
@BardishKW
was more present and visible in our community or even online
With the huge range of issues in her riding and across Waterloo region, all over our province, and around the country… no idea if she cares or how she feels about most topics
😔
@MikeJToronto
Does this mean that we will have an entire weekend where the Minister of Education does not insult and vilify teachers and unions?🤔
I am glad that negotiations are proceeding at the table. 👍🏻
Let’s keep the press conferences out of negotiations, or let press into negotiations.
@MatthewGreenNDP
@JustinTrudeau
2000 killed wasnt enough
5000 killed wasnt enough
10000 killed wasnt enough
This really is the question…
How many Palestinians need to be killed before we demand to end the war crimes?
At what point do we apply pressure to allow Palestinians to receive food, water & medicine?
Toronto just spent more money honouring a police dog than Manitoba has spent to recover the bodies of several deceased indigenous women 😔
#SearchTheLandfill
#MMIWG
#SearchTheLandfill
If it was your mother, if it was your sister, if it was your daughter… you would support the search.
The families of MMIWG deserve better.
So do better.
@AlottaMalotta
@RegionWaterloo
“Well meaning individuals” who get “caught up” because of this bylaw… means that these people were using hate speech.
No matter how “well intentioned” you are, if you cannot make your point without using hateful language, consequences are appropriate.
#adulting
#NoSpaceForHate
Fred was always willing to talk and eager to listen. He was a great advocate for students and for staff, and genuinely wanted to make our schools better for everybody. This is a huge loss for our entire board and our community. My condolences to his loved ones and friends.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Trustee Fred Meissner. As a Trustee, he advocated passionately for inclusive, accessible and safe classrooms and schools.
To honour his exceptional contributions, flags across the WRDSB will be flown at half-mast.
When mask mandates come back to help protect kids and our healthcare system there is going to be a ton of over entitled adults crying and not being very adult about it.
Suck it up. Sometimes we have to follow rules about wearing stuff: seatbelts, shoes, pants, and yes… masks 😷
@maritstiles
If every parent at a school wanted to opt out of e-learning, how many months would be needed for guidance counsellors to have all these meetings?
Would working parents need to take a day off just to sign a paper requesting their child learn in a classroom?Seriously?
#FireLecce
@douglasdowney
@YorkUniversity
@SABAToronto
@OsgoodeNews
How dare you celebrate the Human Rights Code on the same day you support new legislation designed to strip protected rights that literally contains the phrase “despite the Human Rights Code”.
This post is beyond disingenuous and disgusting. Shame on you.
Then walked inside to see a beautiful tribute set up to Trustee Meissner. Then started the meeting with some wonderful words. Not many dry eyes in the room, myself included. Thank you
@wrdsb
for honouring him so kindly.
Rest in peace Fred.
@Travisdhanraj
@Sflecce
He should normalize reaching collective agreements at the negotiating table so that no media announcements are necessary beyond a paper press release saying “deal reached”.
But since
@sflecce
is trying to demonize and break unions, and trying to defund & break public education…
Tomorrow many staff & students will be returning from happy long weekends.
Many staff & students will be returning after a weekend of much pain, anger, fear and anxiety at home because of the situation in Israel/Palestine, and the rising hate felt here.
Show empathy.
@birgitomo
Thank you for sharing this. People need to recognize how frequently this kind of racism is experienced, in all settings and in all situations.
Today I go to vote.
I feel diversity of opinion and having different voices is important. I will be voting for both
@VotePiatkowski
and
@MarieSnyder27
.
Very different platforms and priorities, but one common theme…
The wellbeing of students is the
#1
priority 💜
Vote🙏🏽
@michellemackey
These were many people and groups I recognized from our KW Labour Day picnic, our KW Enough is Enough event, our KW Multicultural Festival, people who supported the protests at Grand River Hospital and who joined me and others on CUPEs picket line.
We were almost all KW locals.
Feeling pretty heartbroken at the news of Jacinda Ardern resigning. She was what I wish more leaders could be. What the world needed and still needs. Kind, smart, strong, progressive leaders.
1/
Candidates and supporters don’t understand freedom of speech is not a free pass.
You can’t say whatever you want.
Some choices of words have consequences, especially when they do harm or threaten harm.
It actually says that in the charter, but most ignore what they don’t like.
Say it with me…
“Housing starts are DOWN in Ontario”
@fordnation
is failing Ontario. Badly.
All his talk of helping build more homes… lies. Again.
#FordFailedOntario
#onpoli
Housing starts are down in ON... we know the Greenbelt scandal was never about housing. Unfortunately, the ethics crisis at Queen's Park is distracting from the housing crisis.
#dutytoconsult
#onpoli
Today seems like a good day to share my favourite video from the
@CanadianLabour
Convention again. This moment will stick with me forever.
Much love to
@JullyBlack
for the inspiration ✊🏽❤️
As a parent it has been concerning to see those opposed to certain parts of the Ontario Human Rights Code become more vocal and aggressive with their misinformation fear-mongering and attacks on marginalized groups.
@wrdsb
this is awesome💜
#EducationIsARight
#HateIsNotWelcome
@osbcucscso
Parents everywhere should see this for what it is, and do whatever they can to support CUPE against this Ford govt full of truly horrible, rotten to the core, disgusting people.
I am trying, and really struggling, to not completely lose it and go on an expletive filled rant.
I really hope our candidates look at who is supporting them, and who they support.
I suspect that I will be receiving more hate and threats for calling her out.
I am okay with that.
Do better. Support good people. This is not okay.