Ontario Liberals to introduce bill for fair wages on gov’t construction projects

TORONTO – Ontario’s governing Liberals say they will introduce legislation today to ensure those working on government projects in certain sectors will be paid a fair wage.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says the proposed legislation would establish minimum pay rates for workers in construction, building cleaning and security, and require contractors and subcontractors hired by the government to abide by them.

The premier says the move is meant to prevent employers from undercutting wages in order to make lowball offers on provincial projects.

It comes months after the government passed major labour reforms that included minimum wage hikes and equal pay measures for part-time and casual workers.

The government has only weeks to pass the new legislation before the province’s election campaign begins and Wynne says her intention is to get it done.

The Liberals face an uphill battle in the spring election and have been lagging behind the opposition Progressive Conservatives in recent polls.