This week, the NDP tried to convince this PC government to increase the rates for ODSP and OW. People are hurting. Doubling the rates would make a real difference to real people who:

—cannot find safe places to live that they can afford;

—are in debt to the utility company because they will never have enough to pay rent, buy food and pay the bills with such a small cheque;

—are celiac but can’t afford gluten-free food to keep from getting sick;

—during COVID, could never afford to bulk-buy food to stay home more often and had to pay to take transit and take more risks than others;

—could never stock up to save money or shop when things are on sale because they are forced to buy what they need when they have the money;

—need to clothe themselves and their growing kids—kids who more often get bullied;

—deserve to feed their family nutritious and real food;

—don’t want to be forced to live beholden to skeezy landlords who take advantage of their desperation;

—need a phone but have no access to credit and must pay the highest rates, usually without data;

—don’t get extra money to replace their bed or belongings when they get bedbugs from substandard housing;

—can’t afford a ticket to a hockey game;

—would love to see a movie or have dinner out with friends, but can’t budget for it;

—want to live with a spouse or companion without losing their independence or money;

—want to work without having that money clawed back; and

—want to live but are choosing to die because the torment of poverty is inescapable.

Who can survive in today’s world on $1,200? No one. Who deserves to suffer in legislated poverty day in and day out with no compassion from this government or end in sight? No one.

This government has chirpy and flippant slogans like, “The best social program is a job.” Well, Premier, those who can’t work can’t, and for the record, the best social program would be compassionate and fair. Raise the rates.

My question is to the Premier. Speaker, this government is desperately trying to paint caring adults who work in our kids’ schools as the bad guys. Everyone else knows they work hard and deserve their rights, fair wages and respect.

James is a school custodian who writes: “I now barely earn enough to support myself, let alone help my mom who’s 75, also still working as a part-time custodian because she can’t afford to retire....

“My school board job doesn’t pay me enough to pay for the rising costs of living. My co-workers and I earn on average $39,000 and can’t afford to live on that. We want our students to have the services they need in our public schools.

“I am asking you to give us the improvement on wages and working conditions that I need, and not support legislation that takes away our right to negotiate those improvements.”

What would this Premier like to say to James?

Erin is a frustrated education assistant and she writes: “The schools are on ‘fire.’ In all my years I have never seen the challenges the schools and students are facing each day.

“We need to fight to ensure no more dedicated, effective workers leave their profession because they need to pay their bills.

“We need to fight to protect the students’ rights to the proper resources and supports that they need to be successful in the classroom.

“We need to fight to ensure that the students get the education system they deserve. They should not have to pay privately for a proper education.

“All I want is a liveable wage. I want resources and money put into our education system so that all our children, including my own, have the best chance at a positive and successful future.

“I want the government to respect us and our roles and that is shown through true collective bargaining. The bully tactics the government is using is not only an attack on education workers, but on all unions.”

What on earth would this Premier like to say to Erin?