December 8th, 2021

Session showed who leaders are working for

QUEEN’S PARK – Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath put the needs of Ontarians at the top of the agenda this legislative session while Premier Doug Ford handed out favours to his buddies and emboldened anti-vaxxers.

“We’re 20 months into COVID-19. More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to COVID. Small businesses have been devastated. Lives have been upended. Seniors are languishing in decimated long-term care facilities and students are struggling at school —emotionally and academically,” said Horwath.

“But in the three months the legislature was in session, Doug Ford chose anti-vaxxers over people’s health. He put his buddies ahead of everyday people.”

Looking back at the legislative session, Horwath said Ford coddled anti-vaxxers by announcing he’d scrap vaccine certificates on Jan. 17, refusing to implement safety zones to stop anti-vax harassment, and balking at vaccine mandates for health care and education workers.

For his buddies and donors, he announced that billions of dollars will be diverted away from other highways to two projects that benefit them – the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413. He wrote off $210 million in cash to businesses that didn’t need help and didn’t qualify for it, while turning away small businesses that needed support.

For everyday people, he cut education funding. He left burnt out frontline health care heroes understaffed and underpaid. He dodged action on the crushing cost of living, including the cost of housing.

“Ford is here for his buddies, not for the rest of us,” said Horwath. “And Stephen Del Duca’s Liberals didn’t put any vision forward this session.

“But I’ve still got so much hope. The New Democrats are laying out positive proposals day after day, and I will never give up on those plans, because I always go to bat for people.”

Horwath said some highlights of the NDP’s proposals going to bat for people this session include:

  • Partnering with the National Council of Canadian Muslims on an anti-Islamophobia bill
  • Launching a roadmap to a $20 minimum wage
  • Proposing legislation for 10 permanent paid sick days, plus 14 additional days during a pandemic
  • Pushing to make all long-term care public and not-for-profit, hiring thousands of staff and giving them a raise
  • Signing a $10-a-day child care deal
  • Tabling Safety Zones legislation to stop anti-vax harassment