The Bloody Doors Off

The provincial Opposition NDP were kicked out of Question Period today because they stood up to the CONs who are invoking the Notwithstanding Clause and submitting legislation that prevents education support workers the right to strike because over failed contract negotiations.

Doug Ford (non-ironically known as Drug Fraud for his drug-dealing past in high school) and his lackey, Stephen Lecce, claim they’re trying to “keep kids in school” and are doing this for the benefits of parents of young children who would have to take time off work if they couldn’t find appropriate childcare.

Meanwhile, the Provincial government sits on a serious budget surplus ($2.1 BILLION) and just sent out $200 to Ontario parents with children enrolled in school to make up for the disruption over Covid. They could’ve taken half of that giveaway and offered it to the support workers, who are among the lowest paid in Canada and often have to work a second job to make ends meet, but would rather keep them in poverty. And ensure their big business buddies aren’t “short-staffed” during a legal strike action.

The TDSB will close their schools on Friday, saying they cannot function without these employees, and CUPE — the union who represents these workers — announced this afternoon they will continue the strike until the Province returns to the bargaining table and revokes the proposed legislation. Lecce responded, demanding CUPE remove their strike plans, and the Province will not go back to the bargaining table until they do.

Lecce and the CONs are tarring the workers, saying CUPE and their members “don’t care about the children”.

Source: Stephen Lecce‘s Twitter page.

Okay. First: the CONs introduced the legislation BEFORE CUPE announced they would stage a (at the time) one-day protest.

Second: they announced up-front they would use the Notwithstanding Clause to force Bill 38 through the House PRIOR to CUPE’s response.

Credit: Theo Moudakis‘ Twitter feed.

Third: they held a session Tuesday morning at 5am to put it through its first reading.

(Off-topic: Apparently Doug Ford shilled Tim Horton’s “real egg” breakfast sandwich because, maybe he’s trying to get them on his side so they won’t offer coffee and donuts to everyone on strike. That’s just my speculation, but it wouldn’t surprise me. And honestly, the breakfast sandwiches at Lazy Daisy’s Cafe are the best in the city. Fight me.)

Source: BlogTO.

“School workers are champions and we thank them everyday, that’s worth more than money so let’s remember that at the bargaining table”.

“That’s worth more than money.”

— Doug Ford

When you’re struggling to pay the rent (because Ford’s government removed the annual rental cap), your utility bills, groceries, clothes for kids to go to school? Living at/below the poverty line, forced to work a second job to make end meet?

Being told you are a “champion” is NOT worth more than money.

And it’s not limited to Ontario’s CONservatives.

Have you been following Premier Danielle Smith in Alberta? (Source: Toronto Star)

Oh, and Pierre Poilievre and the federal CONs just voted against a motion that condemns the Ford government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, proving that no matter the level of government, CONservatives don’t give a fuck about peoples’ freedoms. They just wanna make money for their corporate buddies and take away and semblance of choice in Canada. (And he’s the subject of a Toronto Star investigation to his ties with the Freedom Convoy’s Ottawa blockade last February.)

TL:DR I’m mad as hell, and I bet you are too.

It’s time to join the Resistance.