What’s at stake for workers if the Federal Conservatives win this election?
Lower wages, unstable jobs, and weaker unions.
Download the full information sheet to post in your workplace here. (Print double-sided on 8.5 x 14 paper.)
Directly after becoming the Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), Pierre Poilievre’s 2023 Policy Declaration launched aggressive attacks on workers’ rights by proposing US-style anti-worker legislation here in Canada.
These attacks will not be defeated by strongly worded statements, a single union or a handful of activists.
Defending our movement, our members and indeed our charter rights must be a top priority of the labour movement.
As a Federation, together with our affiliates we must organize to push back on the anti-worker plans of the Conservatives or any other political party or leader who seeks to attack workers and their unions!
The Threat: Right-to-Work (RTW) Legislation
RTW Legislation would be an Act put into place that could:
Why RTW is Anti-Worker?
How will RTW weaken unions?
How real is this risk?
Union-busting refers to any attempt to stop workers from organizing or joining a union to protect their rights at work, typically done by an employer however, in 2020, Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) under Jason Kenny passed union busting legislation.
This law aims to weaken unions by restricting their funding. It requires them to obtain written consent each year from all dues-payers to deduct fees for any ‘non-core’ activities, such as social or political advocacy.
Fairness and Transparency? We’ve Got That Covered
In short, unions are grassroots organizations led by workers, for workers. Union members or workers protected by a collective agreement should think about what a CPC government led by Pierre Poilievre would do to their paycheques. The time for action is NOW! Together, we can defeat the Conservative attack on workers, and their unions.
April 28 is the labour movement’s most solemn day. It is a time to honour every worker who has been killed, injured, or made ill on the job. In Ontario and across the country, workers, families, and unions gather to remember those we’ve lost and to recommit to the fight for safe and healthy workplaces.
As we mourn the dead, we fight for the living.
Find a Day of Mourning event near you. For a full list of events across Canada, visit the Canadian Labour Congress at https://canadianlabour.ca/events/day-of-mourning-ceremonies-2025/.
Cornwall District Labour Council
City of Cornwall – Injured Workers’ Memorial, Lamoureux Park
April 27, 2025; 11:00 am
Contact: Louise Lanctôt, President
Lindsay and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony: Victory Park Lindsay
April 27, 2025; 1:00pm
Contact: Susan Sainsbury, [email protected]
Sudbury & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony: Laurentian University, Fraser Auditorium
April 28, 2025; 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Jessica Montgomery, [email protected]
Sault Ste Marie & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony: Grand Gardens, 68 Dennis St., Sault Ste. Marie
Monday, April 28, 2025; 10:00 a.m.
Contact: Michelle McLeave, 705-941-8589
Peel Regional Labour Council
Flower City Community Campus, Milestones of Labour Monument
8850 McLaughlin Rd S #1, Brampton
April 28, 2025; 10:00 a.m.
Contact: Ram Selvarajah, President, [email protected]
Durham Regional Labour Council
Memorial service
April 28, 2025; 11:00 a.m.
City of Oshawa – 50 Centre St. S., Oshawa
Reception to follow at the Art Resource Centre, 45 Queen St., Oshawa.
Speeches will be given, flowers to be laid at wreath, bagpipe player will perform with light reception to follow.
Waterloo Regional Labour Council
Worker’s Memorial Monument at Waterloo City Hall
100 Regina Street South, Waterloo
April 28, 2025; 10:30 a.m.
Contact: Mike Miller, President, [email protected]
Website: https://waterloolabour.ca/events/day-of-mourning-2025/
Grey Bruce Labour Council
Events in two locations
1) Chesley Community Centre Arena
129 4th Ave SE, Chesley
April 25, 2025; 10:30 a.m.
Contact: Chris Stephen, [email protected]
2) Hanover Heritage Square
358 10th Street, Hanover
April 28, 2025; 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Hazel Pratt, [email protected]
Timmins & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
McIntyre Community Centre – 85 McIntyre Rd, Timmins
April 28, 2025; 10:30 a.m.
Contact: JP Desilets, 705-274-3400
Stratford & District Labour Council
Ceremony
Monday, April 28, 2025; 10:30 a.m.
Day of Mourning Monument – Upper Queen’s Park Stratford
Contact: [email protected]
Peterborough & District Labour Council
2025 Day of Mourning Ceremony
Peterborough City Hall (outside by the flagpole), 500 George Street North
April 28, 2025; 10:45 a.m.
Contact: Marcia Steeves, President, [email protected]
Website: https://peterboroughlabour.ca/events/
Kingston District Labour Council
Memorial Ceremony
Mc Burney Park Irish cross site
April 28, 2025; 10:45 a.m.
Union flags welcome
North Simcoe Muskoka & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony – Tudhope Park, 450 Atherley Rd, Orillia
April 28, 2025; 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Mike DeRose, [email protected]
Toronto and York Region Labour Council
April 28, 2025
11:00 a.m.
The Woodbridge Memorial Arena, 5020 Highway 7, Woodbridge
12:00 p.m.
Larry Sefton Park, 500 Bay Street, Toronto
Contact: Jennifer Huang, [email protected]
Website: Events – Toronto and York Region Labour Council
Orangeville & District Labour Council
Workers Monument at Orangeville Town Hall
87 Broadway Orangeville
April 27, 2025; 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Sania Wadalia, President, [email protected]
Ottawa District Labour Council
CLC Monument
Vincent Massey Park
April 28, 2025; 12:30 p.m.
Huron & District Labour Council
Ceremony
Sunday, April 27, 2025; 1:00 p.m.
Across from Huron Historic Gaol
Contact: [email protected]
Guelph and District Labour Council
Ceremony
Sunday, April 27, 2025; 1:00 p.m.
Goldie Mill Park, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph
Contact: [email protected]
Northumberland District Labour Council
Lucas Point Park, 94 Willmott St., Cobourg
April 28, 2025; 4:15 p.m.
Contact: Dan Tobin, President, [email protected]
Website (if available): Events – Northumberland Labour Council
Windsor and District Labour Council
Ceremony at Coventry Gardens Monument of the Injured Worker
4714 Riverside Dr. E.
Sunday, April 27, 2025; 2:00 p.m.
Contact: [email protected]
North Bay & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
200 McIntyre St E, North Bay
April 28, 2025; 4:30 pm
Contact: Crystalynn Bos, [email protected]
Oakville & District Labour Council
Centennial Square
120 Navy Street, Oakville
April 28, 2025; 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Mark Stupple, Financial Secretary [email protected]
Barrie and District Labour Council
Barrie City Hall
70 Collier Street, Barrie
April 28, 2025; 3:45 p.m.
Contact: Anne Marie Brunner, president [email protected]
Thunder Bay & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony – 130 Brodie St. N
April 28, 2025; 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Carlos Santander-Maturana – [email protected]
Hamilton & District Labour Council
Hamilton City Hall
71 Main St W, Hamilton
April 28, 2025; 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Anthony Marco, President [email protected]
Leeds and Grenville Labour Council
Ceremony is at the Brockville Museum
5 Henry Street, Brockville
April 27, 2025; 1:00 p.m.
The Labour Council is also holding a Day of Mourning Poster Contest.
Contact: [email protected]
Brantford & District Labour Council
Lorne Park, 15 Colborne Street West, Brantford
April 28, 2025; 5:00 pm
Contact: Roxanne Bond, 519- 209-2154, [email protected]
Niagara Regional Labour Council
Contact: [email protected]
(Multiple events)
April 28, 2025
St. Catharines
7:30 a.m.
Welland Canal Workers’ Monument
Lock 3 on the Welland Canal Parkway- west side of of the Canal
St. Catharines
8:00 a.m.
Monument dedicated to Four Fallen Workers
Under the St. Catharines Skyway
Welland Canal Parkway – west side of the canal, under the bridge
Niagara-on-the-Lake
9:15 a.m.
Monument located at Centennial Arena
1557 Four Mile Creek Rd., in Virgil
Niagara Falls
10:30 a.m.
Monument located at Niagara Falls City Hall
4310 Queen St.
Fort Erie
11:45 a.m.
Monument located at Fort Erie City Hall
1 Municipal Centre Dr., along Highway 3
Port Colborne
1:00 p.m.
Monument located in H.H. Knoll Park on sugarloaf St., beside the hospital
Welland
2:00 pm
Monument located beside the canal in Merritt Park
151 King St.
Port Robinson
3:00 p.m.
In Memory of Robyn Lafleur
Esquire Canada explosion site (1999)
125 South St. N.
St. Catharines
4:00 p.m.
Monument located at St. Catharines City Hall
50 Church St.
Niagara Region
5:15 p.m.
Monument located at the Region of Niagara Headquarters
1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way
Today, “herstory” was made as Donna Skelly, Ontario PC MPP, became the first woman elected Speaker of the Ontario Legislature. Speaker Skelly has been an MPP in Ontario’s Legislature since 2018, representing the riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook.
The Ontario Federation of Labour offers our sincere congratulations on this historic election.
As Speaker, we hope Donna Skelly will foster meaningful cross-party collaboration and uphold the democratic tradition and processes of the People’s House. As Ontario faces serious challenges, from economic uncertainty and reckless U.S. tariffs, we are counting on an all-party leadership approach, and our elected representatives that are committed to protecting the voices of everyone in the Ontario Legislature.
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The Ontario Federation of Labour issued this media release on GlobeNewswire on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
TORONTO (April 10, 2025) – On Equal Pay Day, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) joined the Equal Pay Coalition and the Workers’ Action Centre to demand urgent action after nearly 50 years of stalled progress on closing the gender pay gap.
“Fifty years in, and we’ve barely moved the needle,” said OFL President Laura Walton. “This isn’t an accident, it’s a system designed to undervalue women’s work.”
Walton pointed to Ontario’s Bill 124, which capped wages in public sectors like education, health care, and long-term care – sectors staffed primarily by women, while exempting male-dominated fields. “It’s a clear example of how policy punishes women for doing the work our communities rely on.”
She added: “While governments talk trade and profits in the middle of a trade war, they ignore the impacts on the care economy where work is done overwhelmingly by women and consistently underpaid.”
Fay Faraday, co-chair of the Equal Pay Coalition, warned:
“Only 26% of women are eligible for regular EI benefits,” said Faraday. “Leaders need to ensure the EI system protects all women in this economic disruption.”
Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre, emphasized the need for urgent reform:
“The fact that we still have a gendered and racialized wage gap should be a wake-up call for our political decision makers. We need to fix labour laws that allow this systemic discrimination to continue, and they need to step up with real income support in the face of the economic crisis that is coming at us.”
Speakers called on all levels of government to stop sidelining gender equity.
The OFL urged voters to press federal candidates on pay equity at the doors this election. “Fifty years of delay is not progress, it’s neglect.”
Media Contact:
Jenny Sellathurai
Director of Communications
Ontario Federation of Labour
[email protected] | 416-894-3456
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In a time when tariffs and global uncertainty have many rallying around a “Buy Canadian” message, we’re reminding everyone: it’s not just where it’s made, it’s how it’s made. When you buy Canadian union-made, you’re backing good jobs, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
The OFL proudly supports the Canadian Labour Congress’s call to support Canadian union-made products and services. The CLC has put together an incredible, comprehensive directory of Canadian union-made products and services so you can support fellow Canadian workers and good Canadian jobs.
Share the list with your family, friends, and community, and let’s build worker power, one purchase at a time.
Full list found here.
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is outraged by the violent attack and attempt of lighting a woman’s hijab on fire at the Ajax Public Library. Our hearts are with the victim, her family, and her community. This was not an isolated incident, it was a targeted act of hate.
We join the Muslim community in demanding that this attack be investigated as a hate crime. We echo the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) in calling on leaders at every level of government to speak up and take action. This assault, rooted in Islamophobia, is part of a disturbing and growing pattern of hate-fueled violence in Ontario and across the country.
How many more wake-up calls do we need?
These acts don’t just happen, they are the result of rising intolerance, emboldened rhetoric, and systemic failure to confront hate.
This violent act occurring in a public library, a space for learning, during the holy month of Ramadan, is a reminder of how unsafe many in our communities are.
The OFL’s Equity Committees are doubling down on our commitment to confront Islamophobia, racism, antisemitism, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate, and all forms of discrimination. We will continue to amplify the voices of impacted communities and demand real change.
Ontario must be a province where everyone can live in dignity, without fear. That means calling out hate and building communities rooted in safety and solidarity.
There is no space for hate in Ontario.
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