 Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak. (QMI Agency files)
|
TORONTO - Tim Hudak is saying no.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservative leader says his party can’t support Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s proposed wage freeze bill for the province’s public sector workers.
New Democrats have already rejected the proposed legislation, which has not been introduced to the house yet as proceedings remain blocked with a contempt motion against Energy Minister Chris Bentley.
The minority Liberals need at least some votes or abstentions from the opposition benches to get any legislation passed.
The proposed new law mirrors many of the features of Bill 115, which imposed a two-year wage freeze on teachers and limited their ability to strike, something Hudak and his party did support.
But for workers across the Ontario Public Service and the broader public service, Hudak said he simply couldn’t support the Liberal proposal as it doesn’t go as far as he would like.
The Tory leader also said he thinks that in addition to wage freezes, layoffs are necessary to get the province back to balanced budgets.
Job cuts are necessary to all departments, Hudak said, including the areas of health and education - although he has also said those two areas should be exempted from service cuts.
