QUEEN'S PARK – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop announced today that the Ernie Eves government will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday, November 25 for secondary school teachers employed by the Simcoe-Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

"I am pleased that our government has acted so swiftly to get high school students in Simcoe North back to the classroom," said Dunlop. "In particular, let's not forget that some of these students are preparing to enter college or university. The strike is jeopardizing their educations – and potentially, their futures.?

The Simcoe-Muskoka Catholic District School Board serves over 7,000 students in nine secondary schools. The board?s teachers began a full strike on Monday, November 4.

Elementary school teachers employed by the same board began a full strike on Friday, November 15. This resulted in the cancellation of classes for over 15,000 students in 41 schools.

"For the sake of the students, we encourage the board and the teachers' union to work together quickly to resolve this dispute," said Dunlop. "It's critical to exhaust all avenues of negotiation before looking to the government to intervene."