Under Ford, 80,100 Ontario jobs lost in August

According to Statistics Canada, Ontario experienced the biggest job loss in the country this month, shedding 80,100 jobs in August. Ontario NDP Jobs, Employment, Research and Innovation critic points to Doug Ford’s ripped up contracts and cuts as signals of deeper cuts to come.

“Today’s job numbers are a sign of things to come under the Ford government. Doug Ford's actions so far have failed to create jobs.” Fife said. “Under the Wynne Liberals, it was getting harder and harder to find stable, long-term, good paying jobs in Ontario -- and it looks like Doug Ford is taking the province from bad to worse."

Ford cancelled Ontario's cap-and-trade deal created an uncertain future for carbon pricing in Ontario and put local businesses in fields like energy-efficient windows in jeopardy. Then Ford ripped up hundreds of legal contracts with businesses, not only putting the province at risk of penalties and lawsuits, but risking jobs, and putting a chill on business investment in Ontario. He’s also started to make cuts to public services, including a $330 million a year cut to mental health funding and a $100 million cut to school repairs. And, Ford hasimplemented a hiring freeze on public sector jobs.

“This is not the way to incentivize economic development and create jobs," said Fife. "Doug Ford is dragging us backward, making Ontario a place where businesses can't count on their government, the investment climate is unstable, and the services that employees need to live and work here are in jeopardy.

"While Ford is focused on returning favours to insiders, he's hurting everyday working people. His actionsdemonstrate misplaced priorities and compromise investor confidence in our economy."

Regions that suffered the most under August job losses are Toronto (10,600 jobs lost); Oshawa (2,700 jobs lost); Ottawa (1,600 jobs lost); St. Catharines-Niagara (1,500 jobs lost); Windsor (1,500 jobs lost) and Thunder Bay (500 jobs lost).