According to Chénier, “we need to talk about the fact that injured and ill Ontarians will once again be sidelined, this time by an event that should have brought joy; the WSIB plan no longer has unfunded liabilities and has a $6B reserve.

“Instead of injecting Billions of dollars to make improvements to workers whose lives have been devastated by workplace incidents, it will go back to corporations.

“Once again, Mr. Ford’s Conservative Government has forgotten what their BASIC role is – to provide services to Ontarians. Ontarians who need to know that they’ll be supported by effective government programs when they need them. 

Henri and Chénier delivered a signed letter from the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Group to MPP Fedeli to conclude the protest rally.

“WSIB benefits are not fair compensation; injured and ill workers living on WSIB benefits have a risk of poverty that is 4 times greater than the Ontario poverty rate – and that risk gets higher as time moves on. 1 in 5 workers lives in extreme poverty (less than $10 000/year) while a bit more than 40% make less than $15000/year,” said Chénier.

Rather than use the surplus improve the lives of injured workers, Doug Ford rewards his corporate friends. 

As a result, “injured or ill workers must instead turn to publicly funded social programs for help. Tax dollars, instead of the employer-paid fund that was established for this very purpose.”

Doug Ford is not looking out for you; he’s in it for the business. For more information please visit the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Group.

The post PCs support corporations, not injured workers appeared first on North Bay & District Labour Council.

Unions are gaining awareness of the TRC’s 94 recommendations and students of all ages are learning about the horrors of the residential school system. It stands to reason that communities will keep pushing elected officials to prioritize funding and dismantle the systems that continue to perpetuate longstanding injustices.

Read local coverage here about the story.

“Even though MP Rota got re-elected recently, it doesn’t mean that he and the Liberal Government can’t do better when it comes to reconciliation, especially the TRC calls to action 71 through 76 on Missing Children and Burial Information,” said Henri Giroux, North Bay and District Labour Council President.

“We’re asking MP Rota to seriously consider the Liberal Government’s record, and to make a plan to enact all TRC recommendations as soon as possible,” said Giroux.

Canada’s residential school system is estimated to have violently uprooted and impacted the lives of at least 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, and its multi-generational impacts are still deeply felt across Indigenous communities to this day.

Several Labour Council members also attended the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre’s TRC Day held earlier in the day. Members attended to listen and learn from Indigenous leaders about how to amplify supportive messages.

The post Labour Council calls on MP Rota to enact all 94 TRC recommendations at rally appeared first on North Bay & District Labour Council.

During the fundraising campaign, we learned a great deal about Big Brothers Big Sisters. Our $12,000 donation is the single largest donation from any 3rd party community agency or member. Congratulations members! Amazing job raising funds for such an important organization. The money will go a long way to help little brothers and sisters, which is a good thing. But the organization needs much more than money these days. Big Brothers Big Sisters has a long wait list for big brothers, unfortunately. Please consider sharing with your members the importance of promoting Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The post Labour supports Big Brothers Big Sisters appeared first on North Bay & District Labour Council.