TORONTO, May 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following is a statement by Chris Buckley, President, Ontario Federation of Labour:
Greetings,
Change That Works for Ontario, means a vote for Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP
As President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) which represents over a million workers and advocates for every worker in Ontario, I’d like to highlight what’s at stake in the June 7, 2018 provincial election.
The OFL has been at the forefront of the fight for decent work in Ontario. Just this past year, together with our community partners, we won improvements and positive change for working people in every corner of this province whether they are in a union or not. Those gains were a long time coming, and they are in jeopardy if Doug Ford or Kathleen Wynne become the next Premier. Both parties have shown that they will not respect the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. Doug Ford has said he will cancel the raise to a $15 minimum wage, and the Liberals have already back tracked on providing holiday pay for all workers.
We all deserve a government that is responsive to the needs of working people, a government that puts working people first, a government that will build a more caring, equal, and prosperous Ontario. When I talk to Ontarians about what they need from their government, here is what they tell me.
They need access to:
- High-quality and affordable health, dental and pharma care.
- Safe jobs with decent working conditions.
- Protections for their pensions to ensure they can retire and live their golden years with dignity.
- High-quality public services that are delivered by the government, owned and run by the people of this province.
- Safe and affordable housing.
- Universal, publicly funded, high-quality, fully inclusive, and affordable child care.
- A high-quality and fully inclusive public education.
The people of Ontario need to feel accepted and respected. We all deserve to live in healthy communities, on a sustainable planet.
That’s why people from all walks of life are joining with union members, concerned families, newcomers to Ontario, LGBTQ+, young people, seniors, and persons with disabilities in choosing to vote for change that works for Ontario.
Together, we can build a province that delivers on the needs of working people.
Friends, we are three weeks away from electing the next government of Ontario. I’ve looked at the platforms and promises, I’ve heard the debates. Doug Ford and the Ontario PC’s are light on details. They refuse to tell Ontarians which public services they will gut to give tax breaks to their wealthy friends, profitable multi-national corporations, and big businesses. Doug Ford says he’s for the people of Ontario, but like regressive conservatives Tim Hudak and Mike Harris before him, Doug Ford can’t be trusted.
One thing is for certain – only Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP can deliver change that works for the people of Ontario.
We can’t keep electing the same old parties to government, expecting a different outcome. We can make a difference, and I encourage every Ontarian that is eligible to vote – to do just that, exercise your right to vote!
Please join me and the millions of Ontarians who know that together we can win change for the better, on June 7, 2018 vote for Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP.
Sincerely,
Chris Buckley
President
Ontario Federation of Labour
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information visit www.OFL.ca & www.changethatworks2018.ca and follow the OFL on Facebook and Twitter: @OFLabour.
For more information, please contact:
Meagan Perry,
Director of Communications, Ontario Federation of Labour,
416-894-3456