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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2003

Ontario needs more than vague words

TORONTO - Wednesday’s Throne Speech throws vague and charming words at the problems created by eight years of concrete, real and devastating cuts to public services in Ontario, said Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Leah Casselman.

Where we need to have public services bolstered, the government is opening the door wider to private sector involvement which will suck dollars out of health care in the form of profits, she said.

She took exception to an announced plan to require unions to operate on principles of democracy, transparency and accountability. “I challenge the government or any corporation in this province to be as accountable, transparent and as democratic as any union in Ontario.”

Casselman applauded the promise of more money for people on the Disability Support Program, but said people eking out a grim existence on welfare also need more help with their monthly expenses.

She criticized the approach to tax cuts for seniors. “An across the board reduction on property taxes gives huge gains to wealthy seniors in their mansions, and a pittance to frail pensioners in modest homes. A more appropriate approach would be to provide this assistance to seniors through the income tax system where it would put more dollars into the hands of people who really need the help.”

“At the level most Ontarians live, this throne speech offers a niggle here and a twitch there. The big winners, yet again, are the rich and powerful,” Casselman said.

The government believes a job is the best social program. “That sounds as if all anyone needs is a job, and that’s not true. We all need a whole lot more social programs - to ensure we drink clean water, to care for SARS patients, to work with children who have special needs, to keep our communities secure, to educate tomorrow’s workforce, and much much more.”

“We need real action. The government is giving us words,” she said.

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For further information:

Katie FitzRandolph: 416-448-7440 or cell 416-788-9057 or kfitzrandolph@opseu.org