BALANCING BUDGET REQUIRES CORPORATE TAX FAIRNESS:
Over 15,000 Attend Largest Community Protest of McGuinty’s Term
(TORONTO, ON) – Nearly 100 buses rolled in to Toronto to join over 15 thousand Ontarians from all walks of life for the largest protest of McGuinty’s term. Community and labour groups from towns and cities across Ontario, and as far away as Timmins, converged at Queen’s Park only days before the final budget vote to demand fair taxation from banks and corporations.
“McGuinty’s budget was drafted by a banker, for bankers. It will hurt the poorest and most vulnerable people most and it will mean job loss and service cuts that affect every Ontario family,” OFL President Sid Ryan told the crowd. “McGuinty lost his majority during the last election and received a mandate from Ontarians to take a more balanced and fair approach to governance. It is time to cancel tax cuts and loopholes for banks and corporations and reinvest this money in making Ontario more livable for our communities. After all, we are Ontario.”
The rally was organized by nearly 90 community and labour groups who have come together under the banner, “We Are Ontario,” to oppose budget cuts that will deliver deep cuts to jobs and services while continuing to subsidize corporate profits. The rally provided an unmistakably public expression of the widespread opposition to budgetary unfairness that has been reported in many recent opinion polls. A survey conducted last month by Public Polling Inc. found that 68 percent of Ontarians want to see corporations pay their fair share to help reduce the provincial deficit and 58 percent support taking the issue of fair taxation to a provincial election.
“For the many families relying on Ontario Works and other forms of support, these programs are a lifeline during a time of economic hardship,” said Dr. Joey Edwardh, Director of the Social Planning Network of Ontario. “The government can’t cut incomes of less than $600 a month and expect people to lift themselves out of poverty. In times of economic crisis, people need more assistance, not less.”
“New immigrants and racialized communities will be hardest hit by job loss and service cuts,” said Avvy Go from the Colour of Poverty. “In voicing our opposition to this budget, we are calling for budget reforms that elevate those who are living on the margins by fairly taxing the profits of bankers and CEOs. The best strategy for economic recovery is one that helps everyone.”
Today’s protest is only the first step in of a new movement committed to corporate tax fairness. “We Are Ontario” represents millions of Ontarians who are part of nearly 100 community groups and labour unions. For more information, www.WeAreOntario.ca
For further information:
Sid Ryan, OFL President: 416-209-0066 (cell)
Joel Duff, OFL Communications Director: 416-707-0349 (cell) *ENGLISH/FRENCH*
