Tag Archives: Kitchener Waterloo Byelection

Summit organized for Kitchener-Waterloo by-election

A coalition of community and labour organizations is hosting a local summit in Kitchener-Waterloo in time for the September 6 by-election.

The by-election will determine whether or not the McGuinty government can pick up the seat vacated by former MPP Elizabeth Witmer and regain a majority government in Ontario.

Many community groups are fearful that a majority government will take off the brakes from the McGuinty government’s austerity plan and bring greater hardship to Ontarians who can least afford the cuts.

Ontario already has the fastest growing gap in income inequality in Canada, much of it fueled by the current austerity plan. The coalition argues we need a clear economic plan to restore jobs and build our community in a way that benefits the people of Ontario.

Concerned citizens are asked to come to the Royal Canadian Legion Polish Branch, 601 Wellington St. N., Kitchener at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, August 29. A light supper will be provided courtesy of the coalition.

This event is being sponsored by the Ontario & Waterloo Region Health Coalitions, the Waterloo Regional Labour Council and the Ontario Federation of Labour.

McGuinty says he needs majority to take hard line against labour

Dalton McGuinty may have handed health care professionals and other public sector workers a reason to vote against the Liberals in upcoming Kitchener-Waterloo byelection.

The seat was recently vacated by Tory health critic Elizabeth Witmer after she accepted an appointment as Chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). This despite past conflicts between Witmer and the Liberals over the WSIB.

Should the byelection be won by the Liberals, it would propel the McGuinty government into a defacto majority, the speaker allowed to break tie votes in provincial parliament.

Given the “elegant” compromise with the NDP over the budget, why would McGuinty suddenly need a majority so badly that he would be willing to appoint a long-time opponent to such a sensitive position at WSIB?

According to the Toronto Star’s Martin Regg Cohn, McGuinty says he needs the majority “because tough times require a hard line against labour.”

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