KENORA – POLITICS – Unifor has thrown its support behind incumbent Kenora Liberal M.P. Bob Nault in this months federal election. Unifor is the largest private sector union in Canada and represents almost 1,500 members across the Kenora District.
Stephen Boon, Unifor National Representative, said, “Bob Nault’s experience has been critical as Canada has navigated a contentious trade dispute with the United States, but we have also been equally impressed with Bob’s ability to break down partisan walls and work with all constituents whether it be big business, organized labour or indigenous groups.
“While Conservative Governments have engaged in partisan politics and worked to roll back employee rights and minimum wage entitlements across Canada, Bob has instead collaborated with Unifor and other unions to better the lives of working people as was just evidenced by legislation like Bill C-86 which greatly expands paid personal leave and employee protections for over one million federally regulated employees.
Boon added, “in the recent renewal of the CUSMA, the revamped North American free trade agreement, we were extremely pleased to see this Federal Government include key labour leaders like Unifor’s National President, Jerry Dias, to ensure the concerns of millions of working people were addressed in a new free trade deal instead of the traditional approach of simply focusing on big corporate interests.
“Despite increased American protectionism and ongoing Conservative calls to capitulate to U.S. trade pressure, the broad federal coalition of labour and key stakeholders held firm and resulted in an improved new NAFTA deal that protected Canadian access to the North American market with stricter labour protections and an end to crippling steel and aluminum tariffs.
“With the last major trade hurdle related to softwood lumber dispute rearing its ugly head, it is now critical to have proven, pragmatic leaders like Bob Nault in Ottawa with the proven experience that is essential to effectively representing the North’s interests.”
Unifor is the largest union in the private sector in Canada, representing more than 315,000 members, including 25,000 in the forestry sector.
