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Statement on Ford's Attack on Education Workers and Labour Rights

Horizon Ottawa denounces the Ford government's plan to remove education workers' labour rights and the government’s unprecedented and alarming use of the notwithstanding clause.

In an overwhelming 96.5% vote to strike, CUPE workers have made it clear that the government’s response to their proposals to improve their working conditions are unacceptable. These 55,000 education workers are 71-75% women and earn an average of $39,000 per year. Stephen Lecce and Doug Ford's conservatives are tabling legislation that would force striking CUPE members back to work under an insufficient and unfair collective agreement, removing their constitutional right to strike. This strategy is extremely heavy handed and will only exacerbate the problems of under-funded classrooms and under-paid staff. Horizon calls on the Ford government not to pursue these strike-breaking efforts and to instead conduct good-faith negotiations with these education workers.

Lecce and Ford have said a strike would hurt students and that's exactly what their government did time and time during the pandemic again through policies that led to unsafe learning environments for both students and education workers. Meanwhile education workers tirelessly worked to create safe learning conditions for students.

Horizon Ottawa also condemns to the highest degree the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, a constitutional tool that allows governments to bypass the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The only government in Ontario to have ever utilized this tool is the Ford administration, setting a dangerous precedent for labour rights in the province and limiting the very small window when workers can legally go on strike.

Horizon is committed to promoting a strong publicly funded education system. During the municipal election, we advocated for school board trustees who have the best interests of students, teachers, and our communities at large in mind. We continue to support students and education workers by standing with CUPE in the fight for fair compensation.



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PRESS RELEASE: The Mayor must respect democracy and call a by-election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

03 March 2025

OTTAWA - Osgoode Ward Councillor George Darouze was elected as MPP for the riding of Carleton last Thursday, leaving his council seat vacant. Horizon Ottawa is calling on Mayor Sutcliffe and Ottawa City Council to call a by-election at the special meeting expected for this Wednesday to allow Osgoode Ward residents to democratically elect a new councillor.

In 2006, former Councillor for Orléans Bob Monette won a by-election with only 10 months until the next municipal election, but in November of 2021, council opted to appoint Cathy Curry to the vacant Kanata North seat less than two months after Jenna Sudds won her federal race. They chose not to hold an election because the 2022 election was only a year away, a by-election would cost too much to be deemed worth holding, and the ward would be without a councillor during the 2022 budget discussions.

Horizon Ottawa says the excuses from 2021 don’t hold up in the current context. This time, there is more than a year and a half before the next municipal election in October of 2026. This leaves plenty of time to elect a new councillor who can represent the interests of Osgoode residents in next year’s budget decisions, double the time that was needed in 2006 and six months more than in 2021. 

Council’s main reason for appointing a councillor for Kanata North instead of holding a by-election in 2021 was the cost, but Horizon Ottawa says this is not a valid excuse. Appointing a councillor was the wrong call last time around, and it shouldn’t happen again, said Tom Ledgley, Coordinator for Horizon Ottawa. “Mayor Sutcliffe must call a by-election for Osgoode Ward and allow residents to choose who represents them.”

Some councillors who supported an appointment in 2021 wanted assurances that the selected person would be “non-partisan” and not run in the 2022 election with an undeserved incumbent advantage. They were right to have these concerns – Cathy Curry was re-elected in 2022 and Horizon Ottawa has observed that she is one of the most conservative members of council. 

The Municipal Act says cities may not hold by-elections after March 31st of a regular election year, which is still 13 months away. The Mayor and Council technically have the power to appoint a replacement for George Darouze, but doing so constitutes a dereliction of duty and would show residents that democracy is not a priority.

- 30 -

For Media Inquiries:

Tom Ledgley
[email protected]
613-663-7018

PRESS RELEASE: Ford’s LRT promise is “just a distraction” says Horizon Ottawa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04 February 2025

OTTAWA - Horizon Ottawa is calling Ford’s proposal to upload Ottawa’s LRT to the province an attempt to use this issue as a campaign tool, and does not represent a genuine goal of improving transit for Ottawa residents.

Horizon Ottawa is also concerned that uploading Ottawa’s LRT to the province would not lead to any improvements and might lead to Ottawa losing democratic control and decision-making over its own infrastructure.The contractors currently managing the project are not meeting expectations, but there is no guarantee that Toronto-based consultants and Ontario PCs will do any better. “This is just a distraction”, said Horizon Ottawa Coordinator Tom Ledgley, “Ford is using the infamous problems with our LRT to try to win over Ottawans, but it isn’t going to work. We know that Ford doesn’t care about our city, let alone the quality of our transit.”

His message was highlighted by Mayor Sutcliffe on X, who seems to be taking some credit for this move based on his “Fairness for Ottawa” campaign. While Sutcliffe is making it seem like he and Ford are working together on this policy for the sake of improving our transit, Ford and Sutcliffe’s past negotiations have not resulted in any significant transit investments.

Sutcliffe has cut transit service and raised fares multiple times as mayor. The Premier has given Ottawa hundreds of millions of dollars for new highways and road expansions, passed legislation to limit bike lanes, and hasn’t made any significant investments in our transit. The timing of the announcement this morning makes it clear that this never would have happened without an election campaign.

- 30 -

For Media Inquiries:

Tom Ledgley
[email protected]
613-663-7018

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