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TORONTO — The Progressive Conservatives’ call to make Ontario a so-called “right-to-work” province is “misguided” and would mean lower salaries and a weaker economy, the Liberals and New Democrats warned Friday.

“It just doesn’t reflect Canadian values,” Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey said in an interview.

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“I believe it would mean lower wages and reduced buying power, and would have a very serious effect on the economy.”

The Conservatives said Ontario currently has what they call “forced unionism,” and they want to give people the right to decide whether or not to join the union at their workplace and pay dues.

A right-to-work law would make Ontario a more attractive place for businesses to invest in instead of seeing new companies go to other jurisdictions with more welcoming rules, said deputy PC Leader Christine Elliott.

“What we really need to do is develop a very nimble workforce and that’s what the right to work legislation is intended to do, so that businesses when they need to adapt to changing conditions in the workplace, they have the flexibility to be able to do that,” she said.