For immediate release:
November 19, 2008
Barrett voices outrage on McGuinty rush to ram through WSIB bill
Queens Park – In the Legislature this afternoon, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett reported, “more evidence of the outrage felt by businesses across Ontario at this government’s blind rush to ram their WSIB bill through to appease their cronies.”
In referring to Bill 119, An Act to amend the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, and the government’s attempt to limit input on the legislation, Barrett pointed out that many of those businesses opposed are not being heard by their McGuinty representatives.
“In the riding of Brant – 4 manufacturing companies wrote me - a roofing company, a homebuilder firm and a contracting business are asking for their representative to listen to sense and vote against this legislation,” Barrett intoned. “In Elgin Middlesex London there is a construction firm attempting to relate their concerns of the dire impact this may have on business at a time when this government has already deep-sixed the economy.”
The proposed legislation would force independent operators to purchase WSIB coverage - imposing an oppressive $11,000 new tax on many small businesses.
“An Oxford area electrician states, “it seems that Labour Minister Fonseca is only trying to drive out the small companies. All he seems to care about is the construction unions & their big business buddies,” Barrett went on to report. “My riding of Haldimand Norfolk has no end of businesses concerned - construction companies, greenhouses, contractors, machine manufacturers.”
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