THUNDER BAY – Public sector workers are calling on the Ford government to provide their services with a fair share of Ontario’s provincial budget, not "just the crumbs."
Dozens of workers rallied outside MPP Kevin Holland’s office Friday as part of a coordinated, province-wide protest led by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“We’re here today because we’ve been left behind,” said Cindy Mazan, a support worker for Community Living, president of OPSEU Local 740, and a local mobilizer for OPSEU's “Worth Fighting For” campaign.
“When Bill 124 was struck down, some sectors were able to go back to the bargaining table and win back 6.5% in wages. But in our sector, the broader public services couldn’t because our organizations don’t have the funding.”
In November 2022, a Superior Court judge ruled that, Bill 124, a law capping wage hikes for Ontario public-sector workers at one per cent annually for three years, violated collective bargaining rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Among those joining the local rally were employees of the Canadian Hearing Services. “In 2010 they had 500 employees, and now they’re down to 200 across Ontario,” said Lisa Steenerson, a representative from the Thunder Bay office representing CUPE Local 2073.
“In Thunder Bay, there are only about six workers handling caseloads of 300 each, not just for people who are deaf, but also for those who are hard of hearing.”
OPSEU's “Worth Fighting For” campaign focuses on wages and the reversal funding cuts. Workers say the provincial government has failed to offer retroactive compensation or reinvest in the hardest-hit sectors.
The protesters also highlighted the "devastating" impact of funding cuts across public services. According to a pamphlet handed out by workers:
- Children, community, and social services have faced $200 million in cuts, since 2018
- In 2019, Legal Aid Ontario was cut by $133 million, about 30% of its budget, with no warning
- In 2024, Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office estimated that OPSEU sectors are underfunded by $3.7 billion
According to OPSEU, their members work in over 70 sectors including developmental services, child welfare, youth justice, correctional facilities, community agencies, universities, children’s treatment centres, hearing services, community healthcare, and mental health and addiction programs.
“We’re not just talking about numbers, we’re talking about people,” Mazan added. “People who rely on these services, and people who deliver them, deserve better.”
A staff member told reporters Holland was out of the office unavailable to respond at the time of the rally but he addressed the issue on Sunday in an interview with Newswatch.
“They’re saying there have been reductions, particularly in children and social services. I haven’t had the chance to fully review their materials, but from my understanding, our budgets for community social services have increased. I want to take the time to look at the facts before offering further comment,” said Holland.
“We’ve seen the largest increases in community social services funding of any government. We’re committed to making sure those services are funded at the level that’s needed.”
Holland said he would review the information provided by the workers and bring it to the attention of the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.
“I’ll look at what they provided and speak with Minister Parsa to ensure their concerns are considered,” said Holland. “Our government has made significant investments in community social services over the last three years, and we remain focused on enhancing those services.”
- With files from Nicky Shaw
