News Release: The Labour Council unanimously endorses Kathleen Jodouin, the NDP Candidate for Nipissing-Timiskaming in the October 19 Federal election.
President of the North Bay and District Labour Council Henri Giroux stated “Thomas Mulcair and the federal NDP is the only party that can clean up nine years of Conservative corruption and economic mismanagement. While Harper has been in office, income inequality has deepened, wages have stagnated and new job creation is slower than any period since World War II. The damage Harper has done to Canadian families, the environment and Canada’s international reputation is huge but the defining issue of Harper’s last term was the introduction of the dangerous and undemocratic Bill C51.”
The Liberals haven’t had a labour friendly track record either. Anthony Rota voted in support of Bill C10, which included both the Expenditure Restraint Act and the Equitable Compensation Act. The large budget bill also took away the right for public sector unions to file pay equity complaints collectively to the Human Rights Commission, and set a $50,000 fine for unions that helped individual women make such complaints. Rota also has a history of not supporting anti-scab legislation, which has been shown to reduce the length of strikes and confrontation on picket lines. Rota voted against bill C396 and C257 which would have banned replacement workers, like those used in the bitter Vale-Inco strike in Sudbury and the Municipal dispute in Bonfield.
Given the Liberals strong association with the Ontario Liberals’ leader Kathleen Wynne, Labour Council is unwilling to support Rota and Trudeau. Kathleen Wynne did not tell voters that she would be selling 60% of Ontario Hydro during the Ontario election over a year ago. Under Wynne’s leadership, our local healthcare system continues to suffer, with hundreds of lost jobs as a result.
“The NDP is the best choice. Canadians are just one election away from an NDP government that will finally deliver affordable childcare, a sustainable economy with better jobs, cut emissions and tackle climate change. The NDP will provide a stronger healthcare system, expand the Canada Pension Plan so no one retires into poverty and launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women. Every vote matters. If Canadians take the time to cast their vote a positive change is guaranteed. “, states Giroux.
