NDP: Conservative cuts leading to highest increase in EI recipients of any province

QUEEN’S PARK - Official Opposition NDP critic for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre), and Labour critic Jamie West (Sudbury) are calling out the Ford Conservatives' lack of action to address the significant surge of people relying on Employment Insurance (EI) in Ontario. The number of Ontarians on EI skyrocketed by 34,000 in 2023, a 32% increase and the highest among all provinces.

"While the Conservatives spend millions covering their corruption scandals with new ads, they are ignoring the fact that people are hurting," said West. "Jobs are disappearing and workers are worse off under this government’s disastrous policies."

"EI numbers are the highest in nearly 20 years, but Doug Ford’s priority is building a $650 million luxury spa in Toronto that none of these 34,000 EI recipients will ever be able to use," said Kernaghan. "Ontarians are still trying to get back on their feet post-COVID, and cost-of-living is at an all-time high. Yet this out-of-touch government is doing nothing to help them.

"We can't fix the housing or healthcare crisis when we are losing good people and jobs in every sector."

While other provinces see increased jobs, Ontario is notably declining under Ford's government. The Ontario NDP is putting forward real solutions like ‘Homes Ontario’ and demanding greater support for small businesses to provide relief to Ontarians and bring them the good-paying jobs they deserve.