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The legislation applies to employees at school boards, universities and colleges, hospitals, long-term care homes, Ornge air ambulance service, children’s aid societies, broader public sector organizations, and boards and commissions that receive at least $1 million in provincial funding.

Public workers’ unions and associations in Ottawa and across the province reacted negatively to news of the legislation on Wednesday afternoon. CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn said the legislation violates the right to collective bargaining because it “dictates what the outcome of collective bargaining would be.

“We will certainly look at (a court challenge) and will use every tool that is available to us to challenge this measure,” Hahn said.

More than one million broader public-sector employees would be affected by the bill, which was introduced the day before the legislature is set to rise for a summer break.

Ontario recently started the bargaining process with the largest teachers’ unions ahead of an Aug. 31 contract expiry.

Laura Walton, president of the Ontario School Board Council of Unions, said matters relating to wages for school employees should be decided in the ongoing bargaining process. The OSBCU represents non-teacher school employees, such educational assistants and early childhood workers, library workers, and custodians.

“Why is Ford wasting more money on possible court challenges?” she asked. “We believe that this belongs at a bargaining table … the government should be allowing those negotiations to take place.

“It’s obviously a tone (the provincial government is) wanting to set,” she added.

Vicki McKenna, president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, also criticized the legislation.

“There was no meaningful dialogue or exchange of ideas or options prior to this announcement. The government refused ONA’s request for further information,” she said in a statement.

“Health and social service-sector workers have seen below-inflation wage increases, and nurses have been working with record-low staffing levels, which equates to less than adequate numbers of nurses at their bedside” she added.

Liz Stuart, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, called the legislation a “heavy-handed” tactic in the context of the ongoing collective bargaining process. “It is certainly not indicative of a government that wants to negotiate in ‘good faith,'” she said in a tweeted statement.