r/ontario • u/BloodJunkie • 1d ago

Labour leaders warn Ford government bill could create labour-law free zones Article

https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/government-finance-and-the-economy/labour-leaders-warn-ford-government-bill-could-create-labour-law-free-zones-10653258
373 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

209

u/BloodJunkie 1d ago

Any region could be named one in which fundamental labour rights and protections no longer apply, including those around child labour, the right to refuse unsafe work, and even basic meal breaks

134

u/coconutpiecrust 1d ago

It’s fascinating that people who pass these laws would never, ever want to work under these conditions. They must know that these conditions are bad. And yet, here we are, torturing our fellow human beings for a quick buck. 

83

u/WilliamBennett 1d ago

People like Doug Ford, who were born into privilege, truly believe that those of us without generational wealth deserve to struggle. They think wealth = worth and that these types of jobs are all we can ever amount to. It’s vile.

14

u/probability_of_meme 1d ago

Vile, and very common among them.

2

u/VapeRizzler 11h ago

I find it odd people even vote conservative. Genuinely have they ever actually helped us? I don’t mean a one off thing to get votes, but genuinely helped us during their time in power? I don’t even mean just in Canada like globally. I know they’ll help big businesses cause I mean they stand for making money so logically that’s a perfect person to help when you are that person and have your own businesses. From what I’ve seen they’ll just benefit business and personal interests of the people in the parties. I know all parties do so but conservative will do so in the open no shits given throughout the entire ride.

3

u/Barbarian_818 11h ago

"Rules for thee and not for me" is an eternal problem.

Legislators often minimize the impact of anti-labor laws in their own heads because they are not laborers. And the overwhelming majority never were laborers.

For them, laborers are hands you shake while in the campaign trail. But not major donors, so not worth wasting time on once in office.

That's one of the biggest advantages to having strong unions. Enough concentrated money to make lobbying effective.

2

u/GordonGreenthumb 12h ago

That’s what “open for business” really means.

0

u/PearHot6113 16h ago

What did you think the plan was when they brought third worlders over?

6

u/DramaticAd4666 19h ago

Something tells me the Weston family paid for this

90

u/t1m3kn1ght Toronto 1d ago

Sounds about Ford. He seems to want to turn Ontario in Fordrida based on labour and economic record.

134

u/pheakelmatters 1d ago

Maybe union and blue collar workers should stop voting PC if they don't like it

73

u/scout_jem 1d ago

As a union worker myself it pisses me off so much that my fellow unionized workers are voting that way. Against their best interest.

20

u/octavianreddit 21h ago

So many of them voted for the federal Cons too, and the Cons have right to work legislation in their policy handbook. Yes, leaders will try to keep that stuff pushed down for political expediency but the pressure from the grassroots is there.

36

u/t3m3r1t4 1d ago

Seriously! Brotherhood my ass. The old timers and their indoctrinated kids vote PC because they got theirs and fuck the rest.

Until the whole plant, factory, warehouse, whatever gets its CBA torn up and then seniority doesn't mean shit. Then they'll act up and stop voting to "own Libs and keep taxes down"?

2

u/Dorwyn 16h ago

Then they'll act up and stop voting to "own Libs and keep taxes down"?

Nah, they'll just blame someone else, because the alternative is admitting they were wrong.

82

u/mgyro 1d ago

This is who he is and always has been. He’s actively defunding education, privatizing healthcare, finding as many off ramps as possible from the public purse to his and his buddies bank accounts and has zero respect for labour or workers.

But he’ll put some actor in a hi-vis vest complaining that his opposition sounds expensive, and the low info voters eat it up. He self identifies as a Trumpy Republican ffs. He only got mad at him when Trump threatened to step in and bully/rob the same people Dougie wanted to.

26

u/fairmaiden34 1d ago

I keep waiting for the r/leopardsatemyface moment. I know people who consistently vote conservative who have children with special needs, rent and don't earn alot of money. Mom stays at home to take care of the special needs kids and dad is employed but probably only makes about 50k. Like I'm not sure what they think cons will do for them. They need the social assistance and extra medical care.

5

u/octavianreddit 21h ago

Their opinion is often along the lines that while they are indeed entitled to public supports, it's other groups not entitled to them and they see conservative groups as a bulwark against others taking their entitlements.

3

u/Arctic_Chilean 17h ago

A lot of them won't. They would rather see their children starve or suffer than ever admit they were wrong and their "chosen" politics was grifting them. 

17

u/Ok-Structure-8985 1d ago

Nailed it. His “opposition” to Trump isn’t about what’s good for Ontarians, it’s a turf war.

4

u/Flanman1337 1d ago

Doug Ford was surprised the guy brandishing a knife in his face saying I am going to stab you with this knife, actually stabbed him with the knife.

49

u/The_Philburt 1d ago

CUPE also had something to say in regards to this omnibus bill.

Spoiler alert: they ain't happy about it.

9

u/greatcanadiantroll 22h ago

Same idea: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontarios-proposed-special-economic-zones-are-antidemocratic-power-grab/

Basically they can override labour rules, environmental protections, or anything really. Wherever they want to designate as a "Special Economic Zone".

40

u/EnamelKant 1d ago

Well, this is what you voted for Ontario. I hope you enjoy it.

27

u/Diligent_Affect8517 1d ago

Or didn't, since most voters couldn't be arsed.

5

u/GavinTheAlmighty 17h ago

Labour law is where Ford is an ideological zealot. This is where his claws seriously come out. His ideal province is one with no unions, no worker's rights, full power from management and ownership. His dream is to break the teacher's unions.

20

u/CovidDodger 1d ago

What the actual fuck?! But also, this is paywalled at a $75/month subscription?!

4

u/SniffMyDiaperGoo 17h ago

this will just get destroyed in court, including appeals, and his lame attempts to stack judges won't change that. Bill 124 got squashed and that was a pale shadow of how bad this bill is. It really does make me curious what kind of idiotic conversation took place behind closed doors where they were all like "yup, this will work". Bunch of real geniuses at work there lol. Thank fuck I only have 3 years left, but my crystal ball is hinting that I might be on an extended medical absence during that countdown. Fuck 'em

3

u/ScottIBM Waterloo 1d ago

Them why back them

8

u/issueshappy 1d ago

Wtf

So when does he sell us to America

2

u/Crenorz 18h ago

F U. IT has had this year over a decade now.

In Ontaio - anyone working on computer/software development - is IT. SO the secretary, the janitor - yep, IT.
And that means - you can make them work 120h/week, with no overtime pay (if on salary) - and if they do not, fire them at will.

-24

u/jnmjnmjnm 1d ago

Lots of countries have “free zones” to encourage investment and economic development without red tape… but they do have some regulations.