Tag: We Own It
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Opting in to a public cannabis retail option for Ontario’s municipalities
The following letter was sent to Mississauga City Council by OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, in response to the City Council’s decision to opt out of private cannabis retail. Download the letter. Mississauga City Council Mississauga Civic Centre 300 City Centre Drive Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1 Re: Opting in to a public cannabis retail option…
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The responsible way is the only way to sell cannabis: OPSEU’s president says
TORONTO — The President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says alarming financial figures from the Crown corporation responsible for cannabis are proof the Ford government must go back to the drawing board on how the drug is sold. Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the fact the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp. lost $42 million in…
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OPSEU’s call for RCMP investigation into alcohol lobbying draws lawsuit threat from big corporation
Toronto – A large corporation called Alcanna, which could reap significant profits from the Ford government’s expensive and dangerous scheme to expand privatized alcohol sales, is threatening to sue OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas because he called for transparency and truth. “They may have deep pockets and high-priced lawyers, but we will never be intimidated…
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Thomas calls for RCMP to investigate the lobbying behind Ford’s corner store booze scheme
Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling for the RCMP to investigate Doug Ford’s decision to break the government’s contract with the Beer Store to allow the sale of alcohol in corner and box stores. “This whole scheme stinks worse than a flat of empties the day after a party,” said Thomas. “A…
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‘Conservative cannabis cockup’ shows Ford Nation is utterly incompetent: OPSEU’s Thomas
Toronto – The Ford government’s plan to have private stores sell cannabis has suffered another setback, prompting OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas to again call for a reliable public option. Thomas is reacting to media reports that Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has confirmed that seven of the 25 licensed cannabis operators have…
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OPSEU, OFL to pressure Conservative backbenchers
OPSEU has joined with Ontario’s other democratic unions in a bid to stop the provincial government’s cuts and privatizations by putting pressure on backbench Conservative MPPs, according to CBC Toronto. OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas tells CBC that while Premier Doug Ford “doesn’t seem to care” about protests, “his backbenchers will care.” “In my union,…
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SNC: A golden opportunity to drain the privatization swamp
The he-said-she-said coverage of the SNC-Lavalin scandal is compelling political theatre. But if Canadians look beyond the daily drama of Justin Trudeau’s clumsy cover-up, we can seize a golden opportunity to make our lives meaningfully better. Better hospitals, highways, and schools. Lower debt and lower taxes for working people. All of this can be…
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Thomas: health care super-agency board is a clear sign privatization is on the horizon
Toronto – By loading the board of his new health care super-agency with bankers, corporate bosses, and not a single front-line worker, Doug Ford is sending a clear signal that more health care privatization is on the horizon, says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “Almost every single person on this board has spent their careers…
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Hospital professionals tell MPPs: keep it public
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas led dozens of leaders and activists from the union’s Executive Board and Hospital Professionals Division to Queen’s Park on March 5 to deliver a clear but urgent message: we need to stop the Ford government’s health care mega-mergers and privatization before the chaos of reorganization hurts patients. “Doug Ford’s government…
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‘Promise made, promise betrayed:’ Ford ministers break pledges not to privatize services
Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling out two Ford government cabinet ministers for breaking specific promises they made on the campaign trail not to privatize any more public services. “Looks like Steve Clark and Todd Smith have a new slogan: ‘Promise Made, Promise Betrayed,’” said Thomas. “Before the election, they had…
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OPSEU & Unifor to Ford: ‘We’re ready to ramp up the fight’
Toronto – Workers represented by Ontario’s largest public and private sector unions have joined forces to deliver a message to the provincial government: if priorities don’t shift in the provincial budget, we’re ready to ramp up the fight. Unifor and OPSEU members from sectors and regions across Ontario are at Queen’s Park this week to…
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OPSEU President: Close ties to EY will be the Ford government’s version of the SNC-Lavalin scandal
Toronto– OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is warning Ontarians not to be taken in by the Ford government’s announcement on Wednesday that the deficit has been reduced. “Today’s news is nothing but another fruitless attempt at shameless self-promotion,” said Thomas. “Doug Ford takes credit for job increases that happened before he got elected. He takes…
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OPSEU President: Employment services privatization and workfare will lead to more precarious work
Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the Ford government’s plans to privatize and outsource Ontario’s employment and training programs will leave even more Ontarians stuck in a downward spiral of being either jobless or stuck in precarious work. “Doug Ford can’t stop talking about making Ontario open for business, but what he’s really…