Lisa Gretzky MPP, for Windsor West

QUEEN’S PARK — NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West) has called on Doug Ford to rip up the likely-unconstitutional and definitely unfair wage cap bill that prevents nurses and other health care workers from negotiating a fair deal that respects their work.

“For 14 months health care workers have been on the frontline as this pandemic tore through our province. It was these workers who cared for our loved ones as they battled COVID-19. It was these workers who put their own lives at risk repeatedly over the last 14 months in order to keep us all healthy and safe,” Gretzky told MPPs in the Ontario legislature Thursday. 
 
“How can this premier call health care workers heroes then suppress their wages, refuse them fair pay, fulltime hours, rip up their collective bargaining rights and force many to live in poverty. Will the premier treat these heroes like the heroes they are and repeal Bill 124, yes or no?,” Gretzky asked the premier during question period. 
 
Gretzky says the Ford Government is now offering signing bonuses of up to $75,000 dollars to Canadian nurses working in the US to re-locate to Canada. 
 
“Here's a newsflash, Canadian nurses have left and continue to leave to work in the US because this government and the Liberals before them refuse to provide stable hours and fair pay. Nurses have said for years that they need fulltime hours and a fair wage. If the work conditions don’t permanently change for nurses no signing bonus is going to stop them from leaving the field,” said Gretzky. 
 
“Instead of just looking at short term solutions, will the premier agree to thank our frontline nurses, show them respect, repeal Bill 124 and provide our nurses with the wages and benefits they're entitled to and deserve?”, Gretzky asked.