Premier Kathleen Wynne says despite legal twists and turns she’s not supporting a private member’s bill relieving EllisDon of its union obligations.

A Wynne spokeswoman said that because a court decision has decided the giant construction firm is not beholden to a 1958 union agreement requiring it to use unionized workers only, the Progressive Conservative Bill 74 calling for much the same isn’t necessary.

The premier is sticking with her position even though the court ruling has been appealed by two major unions, Ontario Sheet Metal Workers’ and Roofers’ Conference and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 586.

Wynne had supported London-area Tory MPP Monte McNaughton’s private member’s bill, but changed her tune when divisional court quashed an earlier decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board holding EllisDon to the agreement.

“In other words, the company can continue to operate as it was prior to the OLRB case. The Ministry of Labour lawyers have advised that this ruling achieves the same outcome that was being sought with Bill 74,” a Wynne spokeswoman said.

“We believe that this bill is no longer needed and will not be supporting it. The urgency created by the OLRB decision has been removed by the court,” she said.

McNaughton’s bill is currently before a legislative committee where EllisDon has defended the bill and some unions have spoken passionately against it.

Another Progressive Conservative caucus member, MPP Randy Hillier has vehemently opposed Bill 74, arguing internally it has the appearance of being designed for monetary reasons, given that EllisDon is a generous contributor to the Liberals, and to a lesser degree, the Tories.

No one has suggested any impropriety on EllisDon’s part and the company has stressed it is seeking a legislative fix to a technicality.

Read more about: