Politicians make their case to businesspeople
Wynne, Fedeli and Horwath pitch business policy to Ontario chamber AGM in Hamilton
Premier Kathleen Wynne promised a room full of business leaders that her government plans to take action on an “unintended consequence” of Bill 148 — the holiday pay provisions.
The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act — which is best known for hiking the minimum wage — is also responsible for changes to how employees are paid for statutory holidays.
“I want you to know we are looking at that,” Wynne told the Ontario Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Hamilton Friday. “I believe that we have to do something about that.”
Business owners — especially those with several part-time staff — have reported the statutory holiday pay change makes it difficult for them to keep those employees and sees them paying more in additional holiday pay than the minimum wage increase.
Prior to Jan. 1, the public holiday pay for part-time staff was calculated based on an employee’s earnings four weeks before the holiday, divided by 20. Now, the calculation is based on a worker’s earnings in the pay period before the holiday, divided by the number of days worked in that time.
Friday marked the first full day of the provincial chamber’s annual general meeting, which runs through the weekend.
Business community members from across the province who are part of the Ontario Chamber Network gathered at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel to debate policy and plan their advocacy strategies for the next year.
Wynne, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Progressive Conservative MPP Vic Fedeli made their cases to the chamber network Friday morning about their parties’ priorities heading into the provincial election.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Rocco Rossi told the room that while they have issues with the Liberals and the NDP, “they’ve at least given us stuff to talk about,” pointing to the fact that the PCs have not yet released the price of their policy announcements.
When Fedeli addressed the group, he pointed to Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford’s five priorities, which include repealing the carbon tax, putting an end to provincial income taxes for minimum wage earners, and cutting the corporate income tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent.
Asked by a chamber member about when the party would make known its position on other issues, including transportation, broadband access for rural communities and climate change, Fedeli said they would be revealed over the “coming days.”
Horwath, who is MPP for Hamilton Centre, positioned herself as offering something “completely different” to Ford.
She also stressed how her party would offer a change from the Liberal government, under which “Ontario families and businesses have been told to settle.”
Horwath said her plan includes buying back Hydro One, investing in broadband access and natural gas expansion in rural and northern communities, and creating 27,000 jobs for students to equip them with necessary skills and on-the-job experience.
According to a recent public opinion poll of just over 1,100 Ontario voters, 46 per cent said they would vote PC if an election were held today.
The Forum poll released last week revealed 27 per cent said they would support the New Democratic Party and 21 per cent said they would vote for the Liberals.