Ford’s wage cap will hurt Ontario families

QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath released the following statement in response to the Ford government’s announcement that it’s introducing legislation to cap wages for public sector workers, including nurses and childcare workers.

“Doug Ford’s wage cap will hurt Ontario families by setting the stage for disruptions to the frontline services they count on, like education and health care. Public-sector workers are the people who make our province work by caring for our loved ones, keeping our roads safe and teaching our children every day.

This is exactly the kind of behaviour we have come to expect from the Ford government. We saw it when Ford ripped away services from children with autism before consulting with families. And we saw it when Ford tried to retroactively cut provincial funding for municipal services like child care and land ambulances and public health.

Now we see it when he goes after people like childcare workers, school bus drivers, nurses and children’s mental health workers without any attempt to negotiate.

Ontario families and the people who make our province work deserve so much better. This government must consult before making any decisions, not cut first and ask questions later.”