FIFE: Ontario families paying the price for Ford’s jobs disaster

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Catherine Fife (Waterloo) is responding to the new jobs report, which show steep losses across key sectors and clear signs that workers are being left behind under the Ford government.

“Doug Ford is a jobs disaster and these new numbers make that clearer than ever,” said Fife. “Ontario lost thousands of manufacturing jobs last month, and the province led the entire country in losses in wholesale and retail trade. Families are feeling the hit in every community.”

Ontario saw 7,400 manufacturing jobs disappear, 20,400 jobs lost in wholesale and retail trade, and nearly 10,000 jobs cut in education, leaving classrooms more strained than ever.

“People are watching good jobs slip away while this government shrugs its shoulders,” said Fife. “Ford keeps insisting everything is fine, but there are over 200,000 more unemployed people today than when he took office. Workers are being left behind and the Premier refuses to face the reality staring families in the face.”

Fife says the government has no credible plan to protect or grow jobs.

“Month after month, we see the same story. More layoffs, more instability, more families worried about how they will keep a roof over their heads. Ontario deserves a government that actually fights for workers instead of pretending these losses are no big deal.”