Anglais

Does Ontario’s Regulation 274 help or harm students?

Published

5 années ago

janvier 27, 2019

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Concerns have been raised by school boards, principals, parents — and teachers themselves — over a hiring rule that gives preference to supply teachers with the most seniority, and Ontario’s education minister says that’s why the province is now reviewing it.

“From my days in opposition to my first day as minister, right through to today, I’m hearing a lot that (Regulation 274) is impeding teacher mobility, it’s causing frustration with principals with regards to interviewing some of the qualified candidates, and I also want to check in to make sure” that hiring is transparent and equitable, Lisa Thompson told the Star in a telephone interview.

Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, said any changes to the hiring process should be made in upcoming contract talks this summer. — Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, said any changes to the hiring process should be made in upcoming contract talks this summer. (Jim Rankin / Toronto Star)

Last month, the province wrapped up public consultations on a number of education issues — including sex-ed — that saw 72,000 people take part, and now wants to hear from teacher and support staff unions, as well as trustee associations, on changes to class size, full-day kindergarten and hiring practices.

Under Regulation 274, implemented in 2012, teachers hired into long-term and permanent positions are to be chosen from among the five applicants from the supply teacher pool who have the most seniority within the specific board.

The rule was created at the urging of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, to curb nepotism, mostly in smaller boards. While initially opposing the regulation, other unions came to support the seniority-based change.

But principals have said the rule complicated the hiring process and administrative work, and it doesn’t always allow them to hire the best fit for the job.

A consultation document distributed last week says “the Ministry of Education recognizes teachers as the single most important out-of-the-home factor in student success. This is supported by research that suggests that what teachers know and are able to do is crucial to student learning. As such, teacher quality is paramount in ensuring students are able to succeed in the classroom.”

It goes on to say that Regulation 274 was created to “bring greater transparency, fairness, consistency and accountability to school board hiring practices of teachers. However, since its implementation, stakeholders … have raised concerns about the regulations. As boards make hiring decisions under the regulation, we have been told that student success may be negatively impacted and there have been some unintended consequences.”

The ministry says issues include how teachers lose all their seniority when they switch boards, meaning “permanent teachers could see this as a barrier to relocation” because they have to start over as supply teachers if they move.

A statement from Thompson about the consultations says the government also wants to start “reviewing the elements school boards should take into consideration when inviting candidates to interview for teaching positions” to ensure they are “interviewing the most-qualified candidates,” as well as “start discussing which factors should be taken into account … to ensure more transparent hiring practices.”

The regulation has led to situations where principals have interviewed the top five candidates, meanwhile applicants who might exceed qualifications “would not qualify for an interview.”

“This ministry has heard concerns about hiring that is heavily based on seniority … (that it) only values time spent on a list. It does not value quality of teacher, commitment to students, experience/time spent in a particular school or suitability for the particular assignment,” the document says.

Unions have heard complaints from their members about the mobility issue and said that is one area of the regulation they’d be willing to discuss.

Even former premier Kathleen Wynne — whose government introduced the regulation — said in 2013 that it went too far in trying to correct hiring problems by making seniority the main criterion.

Harvey Bischof, head of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said, “We are absolutely prepared to engage in consultation with this government and can offer, as we have in the past, solutions to some outstanding problems with the hiring regulation.”

But Sam Hammond of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario said any such changes should be made in upcoming contract talks this summer.

“Quite frankly, we were a little surprised that the fair hiring piece was there,” agreed Liz Stuart, head of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association. “Because that’s not a funding issue — we see that strictly as a bargaining issue.”

Hammond said a 2014 provincial report disputed criticisms that school boards were hiring unqualified candidates or that the rules were preventing young, diverse teachers from landing jobs.

“That report says that 274 is a more consistent, transparent and fair hiring process for Ontario teachers,” Hammond told the Star.

Toronto grandfather Charles Wakefield — who has long fought for the end of Regulation 274 — said “imposing a seniority-based teacher hiring policy has not been in the best interest of Ontario students and parents.”

He is a part of a groups called Parents for Merit-Based Teacher Hiring, which urges the government to cancel the regulation “after years of harm.”

University of Toronto Professor Charles Pascal, of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, said great teaching and “highly skilled teachers that can relate to the students they are working with” are the most important factors in hiring.

While he said he’s a “union guy at heart, I just think this is a balance of fairness for those who have been waiting around — there are a lot of teachers on that list who are highly qualified and who have proven their worth” and those who are just coming out of teacher education programs like the one at OISE.

“I’m a little soft on anything other than quality pedagogy trumps everything,” he said.

A private member’s bill introduced in 2013 by then PC education critic Lisa MacLeod — now minister of children, community and social services — sought an end to the regulation.

At that time, several boards had complained about a “domino effect” of the rule that led to “multiple teacher changes in some classrooms” within a school year.

Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy

Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

Published

3 années ago

août 10, 2021

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline.

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors.

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity.

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement.

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level.

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet.

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.