FACT CHECK: McNaughton spews cloud of misinformation on mining particulates

QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Conservative Labour Minister Monte McNaughton spewed a cloud of misinformation while dodging questions about why his Conservative colleagues won’t stand up for unionized workers and support the NDP’s anti-scab legislation.

CLAIM:McNaughton said the Ontario NDP didn’t support lowering diesel particulate matter (DPM) to make mining safer for workers.

REALITY: McNaughton is clearly confused, because unfortunately, it was his Conservative government that defeated an NDP amendment to lower rates to levels that scientific studies and miners themselves say would be safer. The Conservatives haven’t even tabled legislation to do this.

CLAIM: McNaughton said the Ontario NDP didn't vote in favour of adding thyroid and pancreatic cancers to the presumptive list of occupational cancers in firefighters.

REALITY: While this change is not in any bill McNaughton has ever tabled, the Ontario NDP has long championed recognition of the cancers firefighters experience on the job, since 2006 - that's 17 years.

CLAIM:McNaughton and his Conservative colleagues are “working for workers.”

REALITY:Empty words. When push comes to shove, the Conservatives let workers down.

• Ford’s Conservatives ignored stickers on miners’ hard hats and lunchpails across the province calling on DPM levels to be lowered to 20 micrograms per cubic metre. McNaughton managed just 120.
• Ford’s Conservatives have done nothing to support the workers at Windsor Salt, who have been shut out of their jobs for 104 days now.
• Ford’s Conservatives removed the three measly paid sick days for workers.
• Ford's Conservatives continue to hold wages down.
• Ford’s Conservatives continue to support the use of scab labour. In fact

If McNaughton wants to work for workers, he’ll support the NDP’s anti-scab legislation.