DOUG FORD’S WAGE RESTRAINT LEGISLATION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, APPEAL COURT FINDS

In a victory for nurses, teachers and thousands of unionized public sector workers, Ontario’s top court has upheld a ruling that Premier Doug Ford’s wage restraint legislation is unconstitutional.

The Court of Appeal released a long-awaited decision Monday finding the Progressive Conservative government infringed upon Charter rights to collective bargaining with Bill 124.

The legislation capped wage increases for most public sector workers at one per cent annually for three years and has been blamed for an exodus of health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic as they toiled long hours at the risk of their own health.