Flynn places hopes on reviews
Unless things change, Kevin Flynn fears this generation could fail to ensure a better future for the next generation.
“We want to believe that our children are going to be better off than we are, that’s the way it’s been for generations. We should be able to say the same for this generation,” said Flynn, Ontario Minister of Labour. “But for many families, that just isn’t the case in the province of Ontario.”
Nevertheless, Flynn remains hopeful that through recommendations that could arise through the Changing Workplaces Review, those fears can be resolved.
Speaking to a group of about 90 area business and community organization representatives at a Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce breakfast event, Friday, at Royal Niagara Golf Club in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Flynn said too many young people “struggle to find good jobs.”
“They get part time jobs, contract jobs, temporary jobs, and for others the working world is even tougher. There’s more vulnerable workers in this province.”
The MPP for Oakville said the province is leading the G7 in economic growth, and competing with California for the top spot for foreign investment in North America, but “it’s simply not being shared equally.”
“We have more people living in poverty in the province of Ontario today than we had in the past. While our economy has grown, it hasn’t raised all people,” he said. “We haven’t shared the wealth.”
While the people of Ontario should be proud of the province’s economic growth, “we should be a little troubled that some people in increasing numbers are being left behind.”
He said nearly one in five employees are working part time jobs, that pay about half as much per hour as people doing the same job on a fill time basis.
“Nearly a quarter of part time workers make minimum wage,” he said.
Flynn said he was also surprised and troubled about the “astounding” increase in temporary employment in Ontario.
“I’m not troubled at all that temporary work exists. It always has and there are some great reasons for that,” he said. “What startles me is the fact that it’s rising at rate of 3.5 per cent annually. It doesn’t take too many successive years of that where you’re up to 25 or 30 per cent very quickly.”
He said more than 10 per cent of the provincial workforce are involved in temporary positions.
Far too many people as a result are forced to work more than one job in order to get by.
“I’m still hopeful we can make sure the dreams of these young people will have become realities,” Flynn said.
The Changing Workplaces Review, a report being developed under the leadership of Michael Mitchell and former Justice John Murray, includes recommended changes to Ontario’s Labour Relations Act of 1995, and Employment Standards Act of 2000.
Flynn said he expects to see a final report presented this spring.