Toronto – The legislation that Premier Doug Ford has called a “job-killer” has not put the brakes on significant job creation in Ontario, says Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
“Statistics Canada says Canada created more jobs in September than it has in the last eight months,” Thomas observed. “Just the other day, Doug Ford said he was cancelling the worker protection in Bill 148 because it was killing jobs. He said employers couldn’t afford to give frontline, hardworking people two sick days a year.
“As far as I can see, it’s Doug Ford who’s killing jobs – good jobs that generate tax revenues and build up communities. And it’s hardworking Ontarians who are going to need more than two sick days with the kind of economic medicine that this Premier is doling out.”
Statistic Canada indicated that virtually all the jobs were created in BC and Ontario. Only BC and Quebec now have a lower unemployment rate than Ontario. The agency also said that virtually all the new job creation was within the private sector.
“We all know the story about the boy who cried wolf,” Thomas continued. “We’ve got a Premier who does just that. The difference is, he’s deliberately fearmongering to impose an extreme right-wing agenda to please his corporate pals and punish ordinary Ontarians – the ‘little guys’ he used to talk about before taking power. Remember them?”
The jobless report also noted that this was the third jobs increase in the last four months in Ontario, with 101,000 new full-time jobs created year over year.
“We’re seeing the lowest unemployment rates in the province since the turn of the century,” said Thomas. “Protecting workers has not stopped job growth in Ontario. Raising the minimum wage has not stopped private enterprise from hiring. And raising it to $15 will not stop companies from investing here and hiring even more hardworking Ontario workers.
“Treating workers fairly doesn’t kill jobs. And in other breaking news, Premier, the world isn’t flat.”
For more information: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931