Death threats, vandalism target Tories
‘Attack Workers. We fight back. $15’ vandals wrote on Laurie Scott’s Kawartha Lakes office
TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford’s government is aiming to avert more vandalism and death threats after the Lindsay office of Labour Minister Laurie Scott was trashed over legislation to freeze the minimum wage at $14 and eliminate two paid sick days for Ontario workers.
“We all know there are going to be sensitive times ahead, but this crossed a line,” Government House Leader Todd Smith said Tuesday, noting the premier and Economic Development Minister Jim Wilson received death threats on social media and by telephone.
Ford was elected to a majority in June by promising to cut $6 billion in government spending by finding “efficiencies” that opposition parties warn will bring cuts to health care, education and other services.
Scott’s constituency office in her cottage-country riding of Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock had its front plate glass window and door smashed in, chairs overturned and graffiti reading “Attack workers we fight back $15” spray-painted on a nearby wall Tuesday night.
“I believe in democratic and peaceful protest and debate but we will not tolerate vandalism, intimidation or bullying,” Scott told reporters, defending the Making Ontario Open for Business Act that would repeal several key elements of the previous Liberal government’s 2017 labour reforms that were to boost minimum wage to $15 in January.
“I’m very proud of the piece of legislation that we have brought in. It’s fairness for workers and for businesses in the province of Ontario. It’s open for jobs.”
The vandalism is under investigation by Kawartha Lakes police.
Smith called on labour organizations to condemn the damage to Scott’s office and blamed them for it, even though authorities have made no arrests.
He cited remarks from Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) President Chris Buckley that Ford is an “enemy toward workers” for reversing elements of the Liberal labour law modernization and to “stay tuned” for further action.
“Unfortunately we’ve seen a lot of inflamed rhetoric over this introduction of the bill. That rhetoric has, I believe, led to the activity that we saw last night in Lindsay and some of the threats that have been made,” Smith said. “What we’re hoping is that we can have an honest and, constructive and forthright debate on this issue without the fear of violence and violence,” he added.
“We want to see Fifteen and Fairness and some of these other radical groups to acknowledge the fact that a line has been crossed here, that they’ve gone too far, that this will not be acceptable.”
The OFL said Smith’s attack is off base while opposition parties said he was out of line.
“I want to be clear, the Ontario Federation of Labour does not support or condone violence against persons or property in any form,” Buckley said in a statement.
“We encourage all workers to join with the OFL and its community partners in peacefully demanding better working conditions and higher wages for all workers in this province, whether they are unionized or not.”
Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said of Smith: “If you’re going to assign blame, you’d better be pretty specific and have pretty specific proof. It’s about taking the temperature down here.”
Fraser and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath condemned the vandalism and death threats.
“No matter how much they (workers) are being hurt by this government, resorting to violence like that is absolutely unacceptable and shouldn’t be happening. You have to protest peacefully,” said Horwath.