THUNDER BAY – Further details were released today regarding the projected local impacts of Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act. Economic analysis undertaken by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA), revealed that if the legislation is implemented as currently drafted, it will place 2,010 jobs at risk in Thunder Bay District.

“The pace of change proposed in Bill 148 will hurt our city and region,” says Charla Robinson, President of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.  “The data shows that the accommodations & food sector will be hit hardest with 220 jobs at risk, followed by 170 retail jobs at risk, and 140 private health care and social assistance jobs at risk.  We are calling on the Premier to slow down the implementation of this legislation to avoid these unintended consequences and protect jobs and the most vulnerable in Thunder Bay.”

CANCEA was commissioned by the Keep Ontario Working coalition to measure the potential impacts of six key areas of change in Bill 148, including changes to minimum wages, “equal pay” provisions, vacation, scheduling, personal emergency leave (PEL) and unionization.