Tories criticize wage freeze bill as weak; won’t say if they’ll support it

TORONTO – Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives are highly critical of the Liberals’ proposed public sector wage freeze bill, and won’t say if they’ll help the minority government get it passed.

The Tories voted to support the Liberals’ bill imposing a contract that freezes wages for most teachers, but say legislation affecting almost 500,000 public sector workers is weak and exempts too many people.

Municipalities are exempted under the bill, which means police, firefighters and public transit workers would not be captured by the wage freeze.

Tory critic Monte McNaughton calls the proposed legislation a channel changer for “a government that’s in serious trouble” for blowing hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money on two gas plants it cancelled in Oakville and Mississauga.

The New Democrats call the wage freeze legislation “wrong-headed” and have made it clear they will oppose it in the legislature.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan knows the Liberals need the votes of at least two Progressive Conservatives to pass the bill.

Public sector unions in Ontario have vowed to challenge the legislation in court, saying it virtually eliminates their right to strike by allowing the government to impose a contract.