The
2021 Ontario Budget misses the mark on leading Ontarians out of this
year-long public health crisis and towards a just recovery. The Budget
lacks meaningful investments into the public services that people rely
on. Budget 2021 is missing paid sick day provisions for Ontario workers
and there is no commitment to
wage increases for PSWs and care sector workers beyond June 30, 2021.
There is no commitment to reinstate comprehensive Resident Quality
Inspections in long-term care homes and no commitment to phase out "for
profit" long-term care. Budget 2021 also fails to ensure safe schools
across Ontario, leaving education workers, children and families at
continued and unnecessary risk.
"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed what happens when public services are
chronically underfunded," said Patty Coates, Ontario Federation of
Labour President, "public health crises hit harder, and the province is
less prepared to keep people healthy and safe. Now is the time to fix
those mistakes, equip Ontario to recover, and prepare for the
future -- this budget does not deliver."
The Budget fails to even keep education spending in line with the rate of inflation. [...]
Today's childcare tax credit announcement ignores what is needed
most: universally accessible, affordable, and publicly funded childcare
across the province.
"Ontario needs sustainable solutions that address years of
chronically underfunded public services," said Coates. Workers are
reiterating the need to urgently fix staffing levels in long-term care,
implement guaranteed paid sick days, raise wages for health care
workers, ensure access to sufficient and reliable PPE, reduce class
sizes, address the
impacts of inaccessible childcare, and invest in post-secondary
education. [...]
This article was published in
Voluem [volume] Number 24 - April 2, 2021 - No. 24
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/WF2021/Articles/WO08242.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
April
30,
2019. Queen's Park rally for health care
