More people than expected took part in a strategy session in North Bay on how to fight the Ford government over current and pending legislation.
The North Bay and District Labour Council and Ontario Federation of Labour hosted the three-hour session which saw participation from about 70 people.
Patty Coates, who is the OFL’s Secretary-Treasurer, says quite a few unions were present representing a cross-section of workers including OPSEU, CUPE and OSSTF.
Coates says community members also took part including environmentalists and people with autistic family members.
Coates says people at the meeting, which also included representation from Sturgeon Falls and South River, expressed their frustration with the Tory government.
“We asked how the changes and cuts have affected you,” said Coates.
There were many responses from the crowd covering different subject matters.
Coates says one man spoke about his wife and child who are minimum wage earners and were looking forward to a rise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
“That additional dollar would have given them more spending power and help their family,” Coates said.
“But that didn’t happen. And the proposed tax cut they would get doesn’t affect them. It won’t give them anywhere near what they would have received had they had the $15 an hour minimum wage.”
Coates says a woman spoke about her autistic brother and the turmoil the family is in right now as it tried to figure out how they will cope with government changes to autism support programs.
Another man spokes about his child’s disability and how he pays out-of-pocket for medication.
Coates says this man questioned what additional financial challenges he faces now that the government is proposing changes to health care.
“Health care affects everyone almost every single day one way or another,” Coates said.
“It could be ourselves, our family members, neighbours or colleagues.”
The participants talked about how to get Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli’s attention as the government continues onward with change.
Coates said some talked about getting face-to-face meetings, beginning a postcard campaign, trying to be at community events and other measures as simple as talking to friends and neighbours about what the government’s proposed changes mean to society.
Coates said a number of the people at the meeting will keep the ball rolling on these points.
In addition, the audience talked about organizing a bus to take people to the April 30th health rally at Queen’s Park as people mobilize over proposed health care changes.
Coates said at least one bus will make the trip and perhaps a second bus can be booked.
She said the North Bay and District Labour Council, as well as the North Bay chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition, are taking the lead on the Queen’s Park rally bus trip.