News Release
Office of the Official Opposition
 

Government stifling debate

Ramming back to work legislation through the legislature
April 28, 2004

Opposition Leader Roger Grimes says Danny Williams’ Back-to-Work legislation is already being described across Canada as the most regressive and repressive in Canadian history. The Liberal Opposition desperately wants to have a full debate and suggest some possible amendments in an attempt to make it more reasonable and respectful of the workers’ rights.

"We can’t even get to suggest the proposed changes because the government has used their majority to stifle our ability to debate," stated Opposition Leader Roger Grimes. "They are determined to ram the worst law in Canadian history through without even letting the elected members say their piece. This at a time when the workers are already back at work."

The law says a worker is fired if they didn’t return to work. If a worker is in a car accident on the way to work and is taken to hospital instead of arriving at work, they are not even provided an opportunity to explain what happened - they are simply fired.

"We were denied an opportunity to talk about these situations because of restrictions imposed on us by Danny Williams and his majority," said Mr. Grimes. "It shows once again the heavy-handed and dictatorial approach of this Premier."

Media Contact:
Darrell Mercer, Communications, (709) 729-6151