The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Parents make other plans By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF There were a variety of day programs available in town to parents who may have needed care for their school-aged children today (Friday). Public elementary schools were expected to be closed as teachers planned a one-day protest. Though the Halton Board of Education announced Wednesday it would close public elementary schools today, some boards, including Halton, were awaiting an outcome from the Labour Relations Board hearing late yesterday afternoon to see if that decision should change. Parents, however, had begun making alternate plans after receiving notification of the school closures Wednesday. Childcare centres operating on school property remained open, while before- and afterschool care providers operating in schools had the option to run full-day programming. The Town of Oakville said it would offer a special P.A. Day-style camp. Students could attend Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) for a day of sports, games, crafts and more. This special camp program, for kids aged four-12, offered flexible drop-off and pick-up times (from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.) for $40. Parents could also check out the Town's public skates and swimming times at facilities throughout Oakville or tour the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate from 1-4:30 p.m. Speckles Art Studio was holding art and LEGO programs, T-shirt design, games and more. Speckles registrations cost $60 for programing running 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Before and after programs were available at an extra cost. Safari Science had a day program with extended care available. Programming was from 9 a.m.4 p.m. with extended care running 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Safari Science registration costs $59, plus tax. Extended care is extra. 4Cats Arts Studio also offered painting programs today. 5 · Friday, January 11, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com CHANTAL AYOTTE / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A grey area: labour lawyer adventures out of school: Safari Science offers a Kids Day Program when teacher protests close Halton schools. Here, during on the December protest day, from left, Griffin Ruthart, Reptile Rob and Faye Ruthart. They hold Red Eye Tree Frogs from Costa Rica. The Province claimed a teacher walkout today would be an illegal strike. The teachers' union involved says a one-day political protest is allowed under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. An Oakville labour lawyer said the case is a grey area. The Ontario Labour Relations Board will make the call. "I think I'm going to be surprised either way," said Oakville labour and employment lawyer Chantel Goldsmith, of O'Connor MacLeod Hanna LLP, yesterday. "I think it's a new area. I don't think there's been a determination like this in the past so I can't weigh in on precedence. I think it's going to be up to the Labour Relations Board to make some new case laws. "It is an unclear area if they (the unions) are trying to allege that it's their right to protest under the Charter. However, they are not in a position to strike pursuant to the collective agreement that's been imposed on them," Goldsmith said. "It wasn't an agreedupon agreement. It was imposed on them. So the area of law is completely unclear. It will be determined by the Labour Relations Board." Teachers who walk off the job were told they'd face fines of up to $2,000 each, under Ontario law. The Labour Relations Board hearing was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Winter Bridge Lessons Mississauga-Oakville Bridge Centre FOR BEGINNERS...8 weeks, $189.00 Monday evenings 7:30, beginning Jan. 21st Wednesday afternoons 1:30, beginning Jan. 23rd And The American Contract Bridge League FOR "RUSTY" PLAYERS...8 weeks, $189.00 Monday mornings 9:30, beginning Jan. 21st Tuesday evenings 7:30, beginning Jan. 22nd Please call (905) 820-5728 www.raynerbridge.com BRIGE GAES FOR NE ER PLAYERS... Wednesday evenings at 7:15 - ongoing weekly · Thursday mornings at 9:00 - ongoing weekly e waste electronics unplugged UP TO 50 % * Inside Opinion............................................6 Artscene.........................................30 Worship..........................................29 Sports.............................................32 Classified...................................... .36 Partial Delivery: Oakville National Family, Rabba, New Homes, K&B Sushi, Home Hardware, QSI Windows, Bass Pro Shops, Michael's, Brandsaver For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com LIMITED TIME OFFER! *With Purchase of Prescription Lenses ALL FRAMES OFF Appliances and Electronics 100 pound Minimum, items must be outside. Collection of Unwanted Televisions, monitors, stereos, speakers, washers and dryers, fridges, freezers, computers & accessories and much more... 1-877-910-2929 125 Cross Avenue, Oakville (Across from Home Depot) recycle your unwanted electronics www.spaceoptical.ca 905-842-2821