Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that his government is studying its options to respond to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's use of the notwithstanding clause. Trudeau also made a brief comment in French outside the House of Commons moments after New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh called for further action from the federal government. Singh told reporters Wednesday afternoon: "We are now witnessing a clear attack on vulnerable workers and their rights... There must be a response. We are open to any solution put on the table and to assessing whether it will succeed or not and whether it will help workers' rights."

Also, the union representing 55,000 affected educational workers in Ontario said it still plans to organize a strike on Friday, despite looming legislation that would impose fines on strikers. The Liberals have criticized Ford's government this week, with Trudeau previously describing the legislation as "completely wrong."

Meanwhile, Justice Minister David Lametti did not answer a question earlier Wednesday about the options that might be on the table. But before the Liberal caucus meeting, he stated: "I will not discuss options here, although there are 'a number of different things one can do.'" Lametti added that the preventive use of the clause is "very serious" and "anti-democratic."

Likewise, New Democratic Party MP Matthew Green called on the House of Commons to hold an emergency debate on this issue. In a letter to the Speaker of the House, Green said the proposed legislation to impose a new contract on education workers undermines their rights and imposes "disproportionate punitive measures" on those seeking to take action. Green also said the use of the notwithstanding clause to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of a "disturbing trend" of provinces seeking to trample on constitutional freedoms. He told reporters, "This particular case could set a precedent for provincial governments across the country that may seek to use this to undermine workers' collective bargaining rights." A motion was also expected to be introduced Wednesday afternoon calling on MPs to unanimously condemn this move.

In the same context, Trudeau and others called on the federal Conservatives to respond, but MPs on their way to a Conservative Party meeting Wednesday morning declined to comment. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the workers, made a counteroffer late Tuesday night in response to the contract terms imposed in the legislation, but has not yet provided details about the offer. Additionally, Ontario's Minister of Education suggested there would not be much movement at the negotiating table this week and insisted that any new offer from the union must include the cancellation of the strike.