02) OVER 30,000 RALLY AT ONTARIO LIBERAL CONVENTION
Over 30,000 protesters descended on Maple Leaf Gardens on January 26 as Liberal Party delegates prepared to elect the next Premier of Ontario. Coming from every corner of the province and every walk of life, the protest marked the largest opposition the party has faced since forming government in 2003.
"We are here to tell the new Premier of Ontario that you cannot lead this province unless fairness, equality and workers' rights are central to your economic strategy," said OFL President Sid Ryan to a thronging crowd at Toronto's Allan Gardens. "Today's rally is a testament to the Liberals' largest opposition - the people of Ontario."
In total, 131 buses travelled from every corner of the province to join thousands of protesters who arrived at the rally in droves by foot, transit and car. More than 100 community groups and labour unions converged outside the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention to protest cut to social programs and the cancellation of workers' rights.
"Austerity hasn't worked! By attacking good jobs and social programs, the Liberals have played right into the interests of a corporate sector that helped to create Ontario's deficit in the first place," said Ryan. "Banks and corporations are siphoning billions in tax breaks from the Ontario treasury while the rest of us are being left behind."
A report released last fall by 90 community and labour groups showed that Ontario is leading the race to the bottom. Poverty rates in Ontario are rising faster than the rest of the country and social program funding lags shamefully behind the other ten provinces. As a result, the incomes of 40 percent of Ontario's families have stagnated or fallen over the last ten years while one in seven children live in poverty.
"We are demanding a new path for Ontario that includes an industrial strategy rooted in job creation, respect for workers' rights and a balanced approach to balancing the budget. Struggling Ontarians need a raise in social assistance rates and everyone deserves a living wage," said Ryan. "Sooner or later, the new Premier will have to seek election from the people of Ontario. So, today we are delivering their wake‑up call."
When the third round of balloting was finished, the Liberal winner Kathleen Wynne, who "must meet the challenges left by her predecessor head on," said the OFL, calling on the new premier to tackle Ontario's growing inequality and protect workers' rights.
"Kathleen Wynne was elected Premier amid the largest public protest her party has seen since forming government eight years ago," said Ryan. "It will be a big challenge for her to lead if she doesn't act quickly to repair the damage done to our communities by cutting social programs and suspending workers' rights."
"We are calling on Premier Wynne to begin governing Ontario with the people of Ontario. Struggling families cannot continue to be the only ones making sacrifices during tough economic times while banks and corporations siphon billions of dollars from the public treasury due to a decade of corporate tax cuts.
"It is time for a fair and balanced approach to balancing the budget. Ontarians need an industrial strategy that promotes job creation. We need labour law reform that protects workers' rights to join a union and negotiate collectively with their employer. We need social program funding that pulls our hospitals, schools and universities out of last place. We need a poverty reduction plan that increases social assistance rates and provides a living wage for everyone. Most of all, we need fair taxation for banks and corporations and everyone earning over 250,000. The economy can't recover unless everyone recovers."
Ryan said he hoped for a new approach to governance in addition to new policies: "Progress requires genuine consultation and cooperation. Over a million workers in this province are hoping that Premier Wynne will open up a new dialogue with working people - one founded in respect for our rights and respect for our communities."
(The following articles are from the February 15-28, 2013, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)