Today, “herstory” was made as Donna Skelly, Ontario PC MPP, became the first woman elected Speaker of the Ontario Legislature. Speaker Skelly has been an MPP in Ontario’s Legislature since 2018, representing the riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook.  

The Ontario Federation of Labour offers our sincere congratulations on this historic election.  

As Speaker, we hope Donna Skelly will foster meaningful cross-party collaboration and uphold the democratic tradition and processes of the People’s House. As Ontario faces serious challenges, from economic uncertainty and reckless U.S. tariffs, we are counting on an all-party leadership approach, and our elected representatives that are committed to protecting the voices of everyone in the Ontario Legislature.

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The Ontario Federation of Labour issued this media release on GlobeNewswire on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

TORONTO (April 10, 2025) – On Equal Pay Day, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) joined the Equal Pay Coalition and the Workers’ Action Centre to demand urgent action after nearly 50 years of stalled progress on closing the gender pay gap.

“Fifty years in, and we’ve barely moved the needle,” said OFL President Laura Walton. “This isn’t an accident, it’s a system designed to undervalue women’s work.”

Walton pointed to Ontario’s Bill 124, which capped wages in public sectors like education, health care, and long-term care – sectors staffed primarily by women, while exempting male-dominated fields. “It’s a clear example of how policy punishes women for doing the work our communities rely on.”

She added: “While governments talk trade and profits in the middle of a trade war, they ignore the impacts on the care economy where work is done overwhelmingly by women and consistently underpaid.”

Fay Faraday, co-chair of the Equal Pay Coalition, warned:
“Only 26% of women are eligible for regular EI benefits,” said Faraday. “Leaders need to ensure the EI system protects all women in this economic disruption.”

Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre, emphasized the need for urgent reform:

“The fact that we still have a gendered and racialized wage gap should be a wake-up call for our political decision makers. We need to fix labour laws that allow this systemic discrimination to continue, and they need to step up with real income support in the face of the economic crisis that is coming at us.”

Speakers called on all levels of government to stop sidelining gender equity. 

The OFL urged voters to press federal candidates on pay equity at the doors this election. “Fifty years of delay is not progress, it’s neglect.”

Media Contact:

Jenny Sellathurai
Director of Communications
Ontario Federation of Labour
jsellathurai@ofl.ca | 416-894-3456

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In a time when tariffs and global uncertainty have many rallying around a “Buy Canadian” message, we’re reminding everyone: it’s not just where it’s made, it’s how it’s made. When you buy Canadian union-made, you’re backing good jobs, fair wages, and safe working conditions.

The OFL proudly supports the Canadian Labour Congress’s call to support Canadian union-made products and services. The CLC has put together an incredible, comprehensive directory of Canadian union-made products and services so you can support fellow Canadian workers and good Canadian jobs.

Share the list with your family, friends, and community, and let’s build worker power, one purchase at a time.

Full list found here.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is outraged by the violent attack and attempt of lighting a woman’s hijab on fire at the Ajax Public Library. Our hearts are with the victim, her family, and her community. This was not an isolated incident, it was a targeted act of hate.

We join the Muslim community in demanding that this attack be investigated as a hate crime. We echo the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) in calling on leaders at every level of government to speak up and take action. This assault, rooted in Islamophobia, is part of a disturbing and growing pattern of hate-fueled violence in Ontario and across the country.

How many more wake-up calls do we need?

These acts don’t just happen, they are the result of rising intolerance, emboldened rhetoric, and systemic failure to confront hate.

This violent act occurring in a public library, a space for learning, during the holy month of Ramadan, is a reminder of how unsafe many in our communities are.

The OFL’s Equity Committees are doubling down on our commitment to confront Islamophobia, racism, antisemitism, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate, and all forms of discrimination. We will continue to amplify the voices of impacted communities and demand real change.

Ontario must be a province where everyone can live in dignity, without fear. That means calling out hate and building communities rooted in safety and solidarity.

There is no space for hate in Ontario.

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The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) condemns the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss a class action lawsuit by Black public service workers fighting systemic racism in the federal public service. The judge focused upon the certification process without addressing the substance of the plaintiffs’ case. The case sought $2.5 billion in damages for lost salaries and denied promotions, yet once again, the system has failed to deliver accountability to Black Canadians.  

Anti-Black racism is deeply rooted in the public service. Black and racialized women, who make up a significant part of the workforce, continue to face discrimination, limited career advancement, and unequal treatment. This decision reinforces the deep distrust Black and racialized communities have in systems that repeatedly deny them justice.  

The OFL fully supports the Black Class Action Secretariat and all affected public service workers. Their demand for compensation and the appointment of a Black equity commission is both justified and urgent. We echo the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ (CBTU) call for a mental health plan for employees who have experienced racial trauma and for immediate policy changes to ensure proper representation. The federal government must prioritize adequate Black representation at all levels of public sector employment.

It is shameful that, just weeks after Black History Month and a week before the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, these same institutions making statements about diversity and inclusion have once again failed to confront the racism entrenched within them. This is not a broken system; it is proof of a pattern, with several other class actions already alleging racial discrimination across federal departments and agencies. Justice will not be served without bold reforms. The federal government must take action to dismantle these barriers and deliver the justice long denied to Black and racialized communities.

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BREAKING: Organizations across Canada are calling out the new Canadian Prime Minister for eliminating the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (WAGE) in his newly announced cabinet. This regressive step undermines decades of progress toward gender equality and political representation in Canada. We stand with our allies in a joint news release demanding real leadership on gender equality. Published on March 14, 2025, by the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Read the full release here.