SUDBURY –– Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Labour Jamie West (Sudbury), and Shadow Minister for Health France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) are calling on Doug Ford to back up his tough talk about protecting Ontario by protecting the Northern Ontario jobs being cut by the WSIB as they shut down regional offices.
"We know that the Ford government has been exploring ‘cost savings’ through the WSIB program," said West. "The result is that hundreds of good Northern Ontario jobs are being cut, with no real explanation given, at a time when families are already bracing for economic uncertainty.
"Doug Ford needs to do the right thing. Tough talk and cheap stunts won’t put food on the tables of Ontario families. The Premier needs to listen to the voices of these workers, and of the injured workers who will be affected by these cuts to truly understand the consequences of his rash decision-making. If he wants to stand up for Ontario, that means more than just Southern Ontario."
“This does not need to happen,” said Gélinas. “The Ford government asked the WSIB to explore cost savings from relocating urban offices. Northern Ontario workers are relying on these jobs, and the injured workers they serve are relying on the help they provide. Doug Ford and his Minister of Labour have the power to reverse this wrongheaded decision.
“We can’t protect our economy against Trump’s tariffs if we don’t even protect our province’s workers, and that includes workers in Northern Ontario. The Premier needs to save these jobs and keep these offices open. We will keep advocating for them until he does.”