On January 1st 2019, Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, came into law. Over the past few months the Decent Work and Health Network (DWHN) has worked tirelessly to prevent this bill from coming into law. Bill 47 is a prescription for poor health; it will prevent the increase of minimum wage to $15, removes equal pay for equal work, eliminates scheduling protections, reinstates doctors’ notes and eradicates two paid sick days.
The DWHN was able to speak up against Bill 47 through various avenues: we presented at several press conferences, actions, rallies and spoke with policy analysts, and the Minister of Health, Christine Elliot herself. We wrote multiple Op Eds and coordinated a successful outreach on paid sick days. Multiple members of the Network were able to depute Bill 47 at Queen’s Park and prepared written submissions. We managed to generate incredible coverage and support for paid sick days and also increased the outrage over the reinstatement of doctors’ notes. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and the $15 and Fairness campaign, we are well positioned to win our next fight!