Local MPP and Minister of Government and Consumer Services Bill Walker said the government is focused on helping businesses grow so they can create good jobs in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and all across Ontario.
Ontario’s Government for the People is starting the New Year with labour reforms that foster economic growth and competitiveness while making Ontario open for business. These burden reductions and labour market enhancements that came into effect on January 1, 2019 include:
- Cutting Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) premiums by $1.45 billion. This immediate injection into our economy translates into an average WSIB premium rate cut of nearly 30 per cent for businesses across Ontario.
- Keeping the minimum wage at $14 on January 1, 2019. This saves thousands of jobs across Ontario, as the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario estimated the $15 minimum wage would eliminate 50,000 jobs. Annual minimum wage increases, tied to inflation, will resume next year in 2020.
- Delaying the coming into force of the Pay Transparency Act to properly consult with stakeholders.
- Preserving the flexibility of workers and job creators to decide workplace schedules without unnecessary regulation from Queen’s Park.
“Our government is working harder, smarter and more efficiently to make life better for the people of Ontario,” said Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour. “Our reforms put more money back into the economy, so job creators can invest in new equipment and create good jobs.”
In a few short months, Ontario’s Labour Minister directed five separate legislative reforms, with the most recent one being the Labour Relations Amendment Act (Protecting Ontario’s Power Supply), keeping the power on across the province during the holidays. This swift action signals our government’s readiness to continue working to make Ontario the economic driver of Canada, creating one of the most dynamic labour markets in North America.
“My colleague Minister Scott and I are committed to bringing prosperity back to communities like ours so that businesses can grow, create better paying jobs and contribute to a strong labour market that is sustainable for future generations,” Walker said. “Our government was given a mandate by the people of this province to build an economy that benefits every Ontarian.”
