Wynne Government Rushing Consultations on Labour Law Changes

QUEEN’S PARK – This morning the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs set three days of hearings into Bill 148, the labour law amendment bill. The three days of hearings are taking place next week and the first deadline to apply is today at 5 p.m., meaning that there was less than a day’s notice to apply and no time to advertise the application period.

“Our local business owners are busy working and don’t have all day to watch what happens at Queen’s Park,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP. “By the time they finish work, the deadline to apply will have passed, and if they did hear about it and find time to apply, they have very little time to prepare their presentations.”

This legislation will not only affect businesses, but people who live on a fixed income. Pensions, disability benefits and things like Workers Compensation will not go up but the price of many essential items will increase.

“I have heard from many seniors who are already struggling to make ends meet. They worry that they will have to make difficult choices between groceries, gas, and hydro because businesses will need to charge more to cover their increased expenses,” said Hardeman.

The first set of hearings is set for Monday, Oct. 30 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. The deadline to apply to present in this set of hearings is today, Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.

Another day of hearings is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and from 2:30 to 6 p.m. The deadline for to apply to present at that hearing is Monday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.

Written submissions are also being accepted until Friday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.

Anyone wishing to apply to present or to submit a written submission, should contact:

Eric Rennie, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Tel. 416-325-3506

comm-financeaffairs@ola.org

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For more information, contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

(416) 325-1239