Election season: Time for solidarity not scapegoating!
February 27 is voting day in Ontario.
We need to elect Members of Provincial Parliament who will stand up for working people and meaningfully tackle the cost-of-living crisis. We’ve written a short, 6-question Election Primer to ask your local candidates.
REMEMBER: if you are scheduled to work on Election Day, your employer must ensure you have 3 consecutive hours free from work during the voting period to cast your ballot. If you do not have 3 consecutive hours free from work, your employer must give you additional hours of time off work that must be paid at your regular wage.
For example, if the voting period is from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, and you are scheduled to work from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, that only leaves you with 2 hours to vote. Therefore, your employer must give you additional paid time off to allow you to have 3 hours free from work to vote.
Early voting is taking place from Thursday, February 20, to Saturday, February 22, at advance voting locations. You may also be able to vote at your local Election Office until February 26. More details about how and when to vote are available at the Elections Ontario website.
TONIGHT at 6:00 pm ET! How can we win healthcare for all?
Just last year, the state of California expanded healthcare access to its 700,000 undocumented residents. Before that, states like Oregon and Minnesota had taken similar action.
Join us TONIGHT at 6:00 pm ET for an online forum, where we’ll hear firsthand from advocates in California and Oregon who have successfully campaigned to win healthcare for all.
Countries like Thailand, Norway, and Spain have also taken action to extend migrants' access to healthcare. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, we even forced Premier Doug Ford to respond to the overwhelming evidence that none of us are safe unless all of us are safe by allowing undocumented migrants and international students to access full care in hospitals. But since then, he rolled back this important measure – and we need to win it back.
If you haven’t already registered, click here right now to get the Zoom link.
RSVP to our Toronto Organizing Meeting: Tariffs, trade wars and the impact on workers
The impacts of tariffs and trade wars with the US are scary. Many workers already feel the impact as employers cut production, reduce hours, and announce layoffs.
That’s why we need urgent action at all levels of government to stabilize incomes, prevent price gouging on food and rent (like we saw during the COVID-19 lockdowns), and fix Employment Insurance so it's there when workers need it.
In Toronto, we are having an in-person organizing meeting on Tuesday, February 25, at 6:00 pm. We'll talk about the impact of tariffs on our communities and think through a strategy that builds solidarity, and that leaves no one behind. This is important in light of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to scapegoat migrants, racialized people, Queer and Trans folks, and many more of us who already face discrimination. We must stay united and support each other as we take on bad bosses, billionaires, and bankers.
If you are in Toronto next Tuesday, RSVP now to let us know you’re coming.
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Check out other local and upcoming events on our website. If you want to get organized in your community, send an email to [email protected], and we’ll do our best to support your organizing.
