Not every Liberal leadership candidate is the same.

In December, the Ontario Coalitions Against Replacement Employees (OCARE) wrote a letter to all seven leadership candidates to ask for their support for anti-temporary replacement workers legislation for our province.

The letter made it clear that we intended to share their responses.
Well a month later, one candidate has dropped out, four never bothered to answer, one responded in rather vague terms and one gave us a commitment.

So we all know that Glenn Murray has dropped out; Eric Hoskins, Gerard Kennedy, Sandra Pupatello and Harinder Takhar do not want to touch the issue with a 10-foot pole.

Kathleen Wynne told us to wait for her full platform, which to this date is silent on changes to our labour laws. That leaves Charles Sousa.

Mr. Sousa responded and I quote: “I know that co-operative labour relations are essential to establishing a more positive and productive workplace.

I reject the union-busting approach presented by the Hudak Conservatives. Ontario’s success has been built by strong representation of union workers and our workers deserve more than to be pitted against one another.

I am committed to discussing with labour and employer representatives to determine what steps government can and should take to continue to strengthen labour relations in our province.”

For all the delegates who will choose our next premier, if labour laws are important to you, then please take into consideration this difference between the six remaining candidates.

Wyman MacKinnon
president of OCARE