NDP calls for action to lower cost of living

Queen’s Park to vote Monday

QUEEN’S PARK — Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the legislature to join her in turning around Doug Ford’s low-wage policy and tackling the high cost of living that’s making life tougher for Ontario families.

“For years, it’s been getting harder to afford the life we’re working hard for, and to give our kids the kinds of opportunities their parents and grandparents had — the chance to buy a home, get ahead of the bills, and save for the future,” said Horwath. “People deserve so much better.”

The last Liberal government did next to nothing improve the minimum wage from 2014 to 2017, sold off Hydro One and drove bills way up, hiked child care costs until they were the highest in the nation, refused to regulate gas prices, and let the cost of housing spiral out of control.

Doug Ford has stalled a $10-per-day child care plan from Ottawa, while parents shell out sky-high fees month after month. He refuses to regulate gas prices or to take action on housing or hydro prices. And on top of that, Ford’s low-wage policy means he’s legislated a wage cap that forces the wages of workers in health care and education to fall behind the cost of living, and held back minimum wage for three years. That’s sent a shockwave right through the middle class, holding wages down while the price of everything goes up.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Horwath. “Instead of focusing on Ford’s buddies, let’s focus on working folks and what they need to build the best life here.”

Horwath’s motion calls for Ford to end his low wage policy, restore the lost earnings of workers affected by his minimum wage freeze, which amounts to at least $5,300; take real action on unaffordable rent and soaring home prices; work with the federal government to implement $10-a-day child care; provide financial assistance for small businesses affected by the pandemic; and keep its promises to lower the cost of hydro, auto insurance and gasoline.

Background

The text of Horwath’s motion reads as follows:

Whereas the cost of living is the number one concern for many Ontarians, and many are worse off than they were in 2018; and

Whereas hydro rates have increased every year since the Ford government took office despite the Premier’s promise of a 12% rate cut, and skyrocketing costs for food, housing, transportation, auto insurance and gasoline are higher than ever while wages remain flat; and

Whereas the Ford Government’s three-year, ongoing low wage policies are among the leading reasons for low and stagnant wages across Ontario; and

Whereas the previous Liberal government’s inaction on the minimum wage from 2014 to 2017 added to the challenges faced by Ontario’s lowest paid workers and increased the gap between the very wealthy and working Ontarians; and

Whereas Premier Ford’s 2018 cancellation of the minimum wage increase hit frontline and essential workers hardest, resulting in at least $5300 in lost earnings since January 1, 2019 for full time minimum wage workers, and the proposed $15 minimum wage fails to keep up with inflation; and

Whereas government inaction on the housing crisis, affordable childcare, paid sick days and meaningful supports for struggling small businesses have caused more and more everyday Ontarians to fall behind;

Therefore, the Legislative Assembly calls on the Ford government to end its low wage policies and develop a meaningful plan to tackle Ontario’s cost-of-living crisis by restoring the lost earnings of workers affected by the Premier’s minimum wage freeze; taking real action on unaffordable rent and soaring home prices; working with the federal government to implement $10-a-day childcare; providing financial assistance for small businesses affected by the pandemic; and keeping its promises to lower the cost of hydro, auto insurance and gasoline.