Eves Government Fights Job Action on Backs of Small Business
The Progressive Conservative government is carrying out a “scorched earth” policy in its a war against provincial civil servants at the expense of local business.
Despite Ontario Premier Ernie Eves’ assertion that the strike is a slight inconvenience, the reality is that it is having a significant impact on local enterprises. With more than 1,200 provincial civil servants off the job in Sudbury, $1 million per week is being drained out of the local economy.
“The Progressive Conservative government maintains that it has the best interest of business at heart but it is obvious they don’t give a flying fig about small businesses that depend on the spending power of civil servants,” said Denis Boyer, Staff Representative, Ontario Public Services Union. “If it were banks and insurance companies who were suffering as a result of this strike, I can assure the Tories would have settled it long ago.”
Businesses in downtown Sudbury where many civil servants are normally based report a significant drop in business since the advent of the job action on March 13th. They include restaurants, hotels and travel agencies.
In one case, an area mechanic is losing potentially more than $2,000 a week because he cannot secure the necessary provincial approvals and authorizations that will allow him to expand his business.
Additionally, reduced land registry services is delaying real estate transactions and adding additional costs to buyers and sellers. Millions of dollars owed to businesses that provide supplies and services to the Ontario government are not being paid as the finance clerks who normally handle the accounts are off the job.
