Sudbury part of province-wide ‘Enough is Enough’ day of action
On Saturday, the Sudbury & District Labour Council held a rally to raise awareness about the problems being caused by the high cost of living and other challenges.
It was part of a province-wide ‘Enough Is Enough’ day of action.
"I think it comes down to having real wage increases, real investments in public institutions such as health care and education," said D'Arcy Gauthier of the Sudbury and District Labour Council.
“We need housing made as a human right -- it's not a commodity.
The Ontario Nurses' Association Local 13 represents 2,500 registered nurses and health care professionals in Sudbury. Reps at the rally said they were also there to speak for patients.
"The people who have the money to pay will get health care and those that don't will not," said Kelly Latimer, co-ordinator of ONA Local 13.
“And the wait times are not going to get any shorter -- they are just going to get longer.”
Unions representing teachers and educators were there to rally against what they call the continuous underfunding of schools.
"Since 2018, there has been an average of about $1,200 less per student and this is inconsistent with the cost of living and the cost of running schools. Everything since COVID started has gone up," said Eric Laberge, president of OSSTF District 3.
Local MPPs said they were at the rally to show their support and to speak to people about barriers and burdens they face.
"Not being able to afford groceries, not being able to afford a place to rent, not being able to afford a starter house and they are fed up with government not doing anything about this,” said Sudbury MPP Jaimie West.
“Not looking into the price gouging that is happening. Not doing anything about wage freezes workers are facing, especially in the health care industry and the public sector."
"Ninety-nine per cent of people who voted, voted to say we want publicly delivered health care system. We don't want the private system to come to Ontario," said Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas.
Organizers said the rally in Sudbury was one of two dozen held across the province Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Minimum wage rises in six provinces, but is it enough?
Amid a cost-of-living crisis driving up food bank visits and economic anxiety, the minimum wage increased in six provinces today – but both advocates and critics fear it may not be enough to tackle the overarching problem.
Half of millennials and Gen Z living paycheque-to-paycheque in Canada while stressing about climate crisis: survey
Struggling under the rising cost of living and an ever mounting fear of the climate crisis, young Canadians don’t see a positive future for themselves right now, according to a recent national survey.
Couple and dog killed by bear at Banff National Park
Two people are dead after a bear attack in Alberta's Banff National Park.
Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to include 6 more common ailments
Ontario residents can now access treatment and medication for six more common ailments at pharmacies across the province.
Taylor Swift watches Travis Kelce's Chiefs take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium
Taylor Swift couldn't just shake off another chance to watch Travis Kelce on the football field. The 12-time Grammy Award winner arrived at MetLife Stadium about 40 minutes before kickoff Sunday night to watch Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Jets.
Federal prisoner with terminal illness granted parole on compassionate grounds to die outside of jail
A terminally ill federal prisoner, who has been fighting for a compassionate release to die outside of jail, has been granted day parole.
'A giant in life': Saskatchewan Roughriders icon George Reed passes away, aged 83
George Reed, one of the most prolific running backs in Canadian Football League (CFL) history and a legend of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has passed away. He was 83.
5 dead after single-vehicle crash near Swan River, Man.
Swan River RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed five people in western Manitoba Saturday afternoon.
Tim Wakefield, who revived his career and Red Sox trophy case with knuckleball, has died at 57
Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57.