An Act to resolve labour disputes between teachers’ unions and school boards Ontario school boards and teachers’ unions are currently negotiating first collective agree- ments under the Education Act . These collec- tive agreements must comply with new requirements that are set out in the Education Act and that are unique to the education sector. Many parties have reached an impasse in bar- gaining. Full strikes or lock-outs are under- way at the schools of a number of school boards. Parents of the children affected have asked the Government to ensure that these disputes are resolved without further lost instructional time. This continuing disruption is hurting the edu- cation of students. As well, it is delaying the implementation of the reforms to Ontario’s education system contained in the Education Quality Improvement Act, 1997. A major cause of the parties’ inability to reach new collective agreements is differing inter- pretations of the standards contained in the Education Act , and in particular, the meaning of “instruction” for the purposes of section 170.2. The interests of students, parents and the broader community require that the strikes and lock-outs cease so that teachers and students can return to the schools. To achieve this, means must be found for the settlement of collective agreements that meet the require- ments set out in the Education Act. — Bill 62 (36th Parliament, 2nd Session)