Tag: We Own It

• OPSEU President demands Mulroney’s resignation after admitting she can’t stop cannabis criminals

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling for the resignation of Attorney General Caroline Mulroney after claiming her government isn’t capable of fighting organized cannabis crime. “The Conservatives used to be the party of law and order. But now it’s just duck and cover when it comes to facing the thugs and criminals…

  October 12, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• Thomas: Towns and cities need public cannabis option

  Speaking as a featured guest on the John Oakley Show, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas called out Premier Doug Ford for not giving towns and cities the option to choose a responsible public cannabis store like the LCBO. “If this government isn’t afraid of competition, then let cities and towns have a public retail option,” said Thomas.

  October 12, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News, We Own It

• Pot plans may have ‘unforeseen’ consequences for youth, boards of health say

  Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, cited a public-opinion poll OPSEU commissioned showing that almost seven in 10 Ontarians are “concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about marijuana being sold to minors. Read the full article on the Toronto Star website.

  October 12, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News, We Own It

• Thomas demands a “responsible plan” for cannabis sales

  On Oct. 11, just after launching the Responsible Plan campaign for public cannabis sales, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas presented the union’s submission on Bill 36, the Cannabis Statue Law Amendment Act, to the the Standing Committee on Social Policy of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. You can view the full submission here: 2018-10-10_fnl_submission_bill_36_cannabis.pdf And here…

  October 12, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, We Own It

• Open letter from President Thomas to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli re the Ontario Cannabis Store

  The President of OPSEU, Warren (Smokey) Thomas, sent the following letter to the Honourable Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance, asking questions and demanding details about the giant distribution centre for the province’s legal cannabis products. The province did not reveal its existence to OPSEU until very recently – even though OPSEU is to be the…

  October 12, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, We Own It

• OPSEU launches Responsible Plan campaign for safe cannabis sales

  A new poll shows that the people of Ontario are worried about what will happen when cannabis becomes legal on Oct. 17. Will our kids and grandkids get hurt? Will our communities be safe? To help ensure kids and communities stay safe, OPSEU has launched a campaign called A Responsible Plan. “The problem is Doug…

  October 11, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, We Own It

• Toronto Sun: Poll shows public unease with private pot stores

  The Toronto Sun is reporting that a Nanos poll commissioned by OPSEU “found a large majority of Ontarians believe a public retailer of recreational cannabis would do a better job than a private store of keeping it away from young people.” “Most people polled also think a public pot outlet would generate more profits for…

  October 11, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News, We Own It

• OPSEU President challenges Ford to debate his irresponsible plan to privatize cannabis and alcohol

  Toronto– OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is challenging Premier Doug Ford to publicly debate his irresponsible plans to have private retailers sell cannabis next year. “I’m calling the Premier out,” said Thomas. “The public option is the only responsible one for Ontarians. I’ll debate him any time, anywhere. He can even stack the room with…

  October 10, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• OPSEU to release Nanos poll showing ‘deep concerns’ about privatized cannabis and alcohol sales

  Toronto – During a press conference tomorrow at 10 am at the Queen’s Park Media Studio, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas will release fresh polling data showing that a strong majority of Ontarians think a public retailer like the LCBO will have a more positive impact than private stores on keeping drugs like cannabis and…

  October 10, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• OPSEU alerts Ontario Securities Commission to eyebrow raising cannabis connections

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas has sent a letter to the Ontario Securities Commission on some eyebrow raising activity on the stock markets involving cannabis companies. Thomas wrote OSC Chair and CEO Maureen Jensen about the possibility that some prominent individuals with Conservative connections may have used insider knowledge to profit in the…

  October 3, 2018

  Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• Ford turning Ontario into the ‘wild west of cannabis,’ and municipalities will pay the price

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said he is shocked that the Ford government wants to throw open the doors to cannabis profiteers and leave municipalities and communities to deal with the problems. “Unlimited stores and unlimited places to smoke will cause unlimited problems,” said Thomas. “It’s outrageous. We’re going to become the wild…

  September 27, 2018

  Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• The real political cover-up is privatization, and Conservatives share the blame

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says that if Premier Doug Ford wants to get to the bottom of “the biggest government scandal in a generation,” he’ll set sights on privatization and the political insiders getting rich because of it. “The privatization of public services is the biggest rip-off we’ve ever seen in this…

  September 24, 2018

  Campaigns, Media

  Media release, We Own It

• In open letter, OPSEU President tells Ford and Fedeli their public service job promise ‘must be kept’

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas has sent an open letter to Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Vic Fedeli, reminding them of their frequent campaign promise that they wouldn’t cut any frontline public service jobs. Here is the complete text of the open letter: September 24, 2018 Ontario Premier Doug Ford Ontario Finance…

  September 24, 2018

  Campaigns, Media

  Media release, We Own It

• OPSEU President to join rally to save Orono’s LCBO

  Orono – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas will attend a rally in Orono on Friday to hold the provincial government to its promise to maintain an LCBO store in the community. “Orono deserves an LCBO,” said Thomas. “It’s inspiring to see a community that’s willing to take its power back from provincial politicians and corporate…

  September 20, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• Victory in Owen Sound: Clinic workers win decent wages, working conditions

  Owen Sound – OPSEU members at the Owen Sound Family Health Organization have ratified a collective agreement that provides decent wages and working conditions that will ensure quality family health care in Owen Sound and across Ontario. The doctors who own the clinic are scheduled to vote on the agreement Thursday. “These workers, who are…

  September 5, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Media release, We Own It

• Thomas: OPSEU is stronger than ever this Labour Day and ready for storm clouds ahead

  Toronto – In a Labour Day message to union members and the public, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the union is bigger and stronger than it’s ever been and is prepared to challenge the new Conservative government and some of its reckless decisions. “It’s Economics 101: the stronger the working and middle classes, the…

  August 30, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• Police investigating violence at Owen Sound strike

  CTV News reports that police are investigating picket line violence at the Owen Sound Family Health Organization that has left some picketers injured. “We’re just asking the people of Owen Sound to be patient and respect the picket line,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas in the news report, adding that at least five people have…

  August 28, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  OPSEU in the News, We Own It

• Thomas: Why is Ford afraid of a little pot competition?

  In an op-ed published by the Toronto Sun, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says that Ontarians and municipalities should be able to choose publicly owned and managed cannabis retail stores. “I still think all cannabis sales, just like all alcohol sales, should be handled by a respectable and responsible public organization like the LCBO,” writes…

  August 27, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News, We Own It

• OPSEU rallying municipal leaders to fight for a public cannabis option

  Ottawa – OPSEU will be at the annual conference of the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) today, giving hundreds of municipal politicians and leaders the chance to demand Doug Ford rethink his knee-jerk decree that cannabis will only be sold in profit-driven private stores. “Private-only cannabis sales will be a financial and public-health mess. And the…

  August 21, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It

• OPSEU’s Thomas calls for public cannabis option

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas appeared on a Financial Post panel discussion and called for publicly run cannabis outlets in municipalities that don’t want sales in private hands. He said the government is putting many municipalities on the spot by giving them just one chance to opt out of allowing private, for-profit stores…

  August 17, 2018

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Cannabis, Fighting Privatization, Media release, We Own It