In a bid to rein in spending, Premier Doug Ford is threatening to impose a cap on pay hikes for hundreds of thousands of public servants.The Progressive Conservatives on Wednesday tabled legislation that would limit wage increases to 1 per cent a year for the next three years.But the austerity move would not take effect right away because the legislature is rising for the summer on Thursday so, barring an emergency session in July or August, the bill cannot become law until the fall.It does, however, send a signal to public-service unions - including teachers and school support staff - about to enter into negotiations with the government that belts will be tightened.The legislation also impacts universities and colleges, hospital and long-term-care facilities, among others, although municipalities are exempt.The proposed Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act ensures that increases in public sector wages `reflect the fiscal situation of the province,` said Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy, and is `consistent with the principles of responsible fiscal management.`Read more:Province overrules Toronto to allow more density in midtown, downtownOpinion | Linda McQuaig: Doug Ford should cancel Highway 407 contractOpinion | Christopher Hume:Â Ford government´s plan to allow more density in midtown is the right move - even if it´s for the wrong reasonsBethlenfalvy´s push was announced almost two months after Finance Minister Vic Fedeli tabled the biggest budget in Ontario history - a $163.4 billion fiscal blueprint earmarking $4.9 billion more in expenditures than the previous Liberal government.Despite the big spending, the Tories are scrambling to limit future costs.The legislation, which passed first reading 64-40 on Wednesday, will first target teachers and education workers, whose contracts expire at the end of August.Some education unions have already begun preliminary talks with the government and school board associations ...
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