As we find ourselves on the other side of this year’s provincial election, I’m thinking of all of the contributions of members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) over the past few months. Mobilizing during a lingering pandemic wasn’t easy, and while the results of this campaign are far from what we would have wanted, I’m proud of our efforts to support progressive policies. I want to express a heartfelt thank you to all USW members for your contributions in this election.
With each election we work to move the dial by demanding our political leaders listen to the voices of working people. Through this engagement we will carry on with our work, facilitating crucial conversations about the connection between our union movement and the political arena.
Steelworkers Vote election schools continue to provide a powerful opportunity to spread the word about electing a labour-friendly party to ensure worker-friendly policies. Policies like making it easier for people to form and join unions, protecting pensions and benefits, lowering the cost of living, implementing public mental-health care, and creating good green jobs. These issues will continue to matter more than ever and we will continue to advocate for them.
We have lost some brilliant MPPs whose voices will be sorely missed at Queen’s Park – including Steelworker Gilles Bisson in Timmins. Thank you for your service, Gilles. I want to thank all of the NDP candidates, some of them proud Steelworkers, who stepped up to run in this election. This includes Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk–James Bay); Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre); Michael Mantha (Algoma–Manitoulin) and Jamie West (Sudbury) who were all successfully re-elected. And I want to congratulate the NDP MPPs who will be returning to Queen’s Park in the new term ahead.
I want to thank outgoing Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who led our party with great tenacity, hope and strength over the past 13 years, in addition to her time as an MPP since 2004 and before that, as a Hamilton city councillor. Andrea, thank you for your service to our party and the province.
We commit to working closely with the interim leader and campaigning hard to elect a leader who will connect with working people and lead the Ontario NDP to government in 2026.
While we are disappointed by the reduction of seats, we are heartened that the Ontario NDP remains the Official Opposition party. Over the next four years, we will build back better and make the changes necessary to come back stronger in the next election.
Steelworkers will always be there to support progressive change as we press on with our work to build a better province for all Ontarians. Over the years, our biggest fights have won us our most important rights. Together, we will continue to fight to improve the lives of our members, our families and our communities. Our work continues, and so does our commitment to each other.
In solidarity,
Myles Sullivan
USW District 6 Director
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