A London labour group has joined with others across the province in an effort to send a message to Premier Doug Ford that they will not stand for cuts to public services.
The London District Labour Council joined labour groups in around 50 towns and cities across Ontario on Wednesday to protest the cuts to education and health care that were announced in the PC budget on April 11. The London group and its community allies rallied at the offices of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour at 217 York St., hoping to pressure the Ford government to abandon policies that are expected to cause job losses.
"I really think this government has really not been upfront with the public about what their budget is going to entail. And in fact, I think the premier needs to brush up on his math skills because the budget either cuts or freezes [funding] across all ministries," said labour council President Patti Dalton. "I'm concerned about the massive job losses that are going be [occuring] across the public sector."
Dalton cited the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation which said one in four teachers in every Ontario school will likely lose their job due to the PC government's decision to increase class sizes for Grade 4 to 12. As well, in the health sector, the Ford government intends to merge 20 health agencies in Ontario into one.
"How could you possibly cut all of those aspects of public education, just as one example, and not have job losses," she said."The general public needs to be aware of what is happening... the brunt of these cuts is going to fall of the most vulnerable in communities."
The province also plans to eliminate nearly 3,500 teaching positions through attrition.
"We need to stand up to this government," said Dalton. "They really do not believe in the democratic process."
The local labour group called the provincial budget an attack on workers, families, communities, and public services. adding that business will receive $3.8 billion in corporate tax handouts over the next six years.
"[The government is] on a path of destruction for public services with the intent for broad privatization, which means that people will have to pay out of pocket for services, and there will be massive job losses," the labour council said in a news release.
Members and supporters of the London and District Labour Council rally outside of the local Ontario Ministries of Labour and Education at 217 York Street, April 17, 2019. (Photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)