May 6, 2009

(Queen's Park) - Ontario's Minister of Labour has failed to do his job and has failed Ontarians by abusing the very laws he's responsible for upholding. Today in the Legislature, PC MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton) demanded that the Minister step aside and called for an immediate investigation over the mishandling of the Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla affair.

According to a Toronto Star report, the Minister of Labour has known for two weeks about allegations that Magdalene Gordo and Richelyn Tongson were forced to work up to 16 hours a day, five days a week, for an estimated $1.56 an hour, well below the $9.50 minimum wage.

"What kind of labour minister sits by when workers are accusing his own friend of breaking the very labour laws he's brought forward?" asked MacLeod. "How can this Liberal government explain this failure to the Ontario public?"

The Minister has indicated that he will introduce a bill in the Ontario Legislature that would protect nannies and temporary workers.

"This is the height of hypocrisy," added Opposition Leader Bob Runciman (Leeds-Grenville). "Unfortunately, it appears as though the McGuinty Liberals think that they can pick and choose which laws to follow, especially when it concerns a Liberal Member of Parliament. It just doesn't work that way - Ontarians deserve better from their government."

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