The Green Party of Canada is standing in support of the more than 400 locked out Electro-Motive Canada workers.
“It’s outrageous that a profitable company would ask workers to accept a 50 percent wage cut on top of cuts to benefits and pensions. Instead of handing out billions in big corporate tax cuts, we need to support businesses creating well-paying local jobs,” said Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner, who is attending the workers’ rally with London area Greens on Saturday, January 21st.
“Unfortunately, these London workers are experiencing first hand that corporate tax cuts do not lead to more employment,” said Green Leader May (Saanich-Gulf Islands). “The manufacturing industry is suffering in Canada yet the Harper government simply gives out bailouts without adequately protecting Canadian jobs.”
Since 2000, corporate income taxes in Canada have been almost in half.
“Electro-Motive is Canada’s only locomotive manufacturer. This latest crisis also reminds us of the total lack of government investment into our rail lines, putting us far behind other countries. An improved rail system would make Canada more economically competitive and provide thousands of new jobs,” said May.
The Green Party would re-invest in our national rail systems, building more train cars in Canada, increasing train speeds and phasing in high speed rail where feasible, and creating green transportation and energy infrastructure corridors in key regions.