Ontario taxpayers have been hit with a hefty bill of $4.3 million to cover legal costs in cases related to Bill 124. This controversial legislation, which was introduced by the provincial government in 2019, aimed to cap public sector wage increases at 1% per year for three years.
According to documents obtained by CTV News, the majority of the legal costs were incurred by the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The ONA alone accounted for $3.2 million of the total amount, while CUPE’s legal fees amounted to $1.1 million.
The ONA and CUPE were among several unions that challenged the constitutionality of Bill 124, arguing that it violated their collective bargaining rights. In July 2020, the Ontario Superior Court ruled in their favor, stating that the legislation was unconstitutional and infringed on the unions’ right to free and fair collective bargaining.
Following the court’s decision, the provincial government announced that it would not appeal the ruling and would instead work with the affected unions to reach a resolution. As a result, the legal costs incurred by the ONA and CUPE were covered by the government.
However, not all unions involved in the legal challenge had their costs covered. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) and the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO) were both denied reimbursement for their legal fees, which amounted to $1.2 million and $300,000 respectively.
In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of the Attorney General defended the decision to cover the legal costs of some unions but not others, stating that it was based on “the merits of each case and the specific circumstances of each union.”
The total amount of $4.3 million paid by Ontario taxpayers to cover legal costs in the Bill 124 cases is a significant sum, especially considering the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains to be seen how the government will address the issue of public sector wage increases in the future, as negotiations with affected unions continue.
