An extensive roster of female candidates means the Ontario New Democratic Party is better suited to get results for women and working families than its political rivals, party leader Howard Hampton said Wednesday.
Hampton received an enthusiastic welcome from a crowd of about 800 people — mostly women — at the Women Vote 2007 conference in Toronto and quipped, "I wish I could start every morning this way."
Hampton said he's proud that 42 women will represent the NDP in the Oct. 10 provincial election, which is the most of any of the major parties.
He said getting more women involved in politics is "absolutely critical," and the NDP is the most committed to putting more women in the legislature.
The Liberals are fielding 38 female candidates, while the Progressive Conservatives have 24 women running for office.
"New Democrats know working families will only be truly represented when we have MPPs that reflect the full diversity of experience of our province, and the strong slate of women NDP candidates in this campaign will bring us closer to that goal," he said.
Hampton highlights wage gap
Hampton used his speech to highlight the wage gap between men and women in Ontario. The average salary for Ontario women is $26,800, he said, drawing gasps and cries of disbelief from the crowd.
"Women still are paid only 70 per cent of what men make, and for university graduates it's actually getting worse, not better," Hampton said, pointing out the average salary for Ontario men is $41,900.
"Unequal pay is wrong. It hurts women, it hurts families and makes women and their children more vulnerable to poverty."
Almost half of single, widowed or divorced women over the age of 65 live in poverty, and more than 40 per cent of unattached women under 65 fall below the poverty line, he said.
Of the approximately 237,000 workers on minimum wage in Ontario, 61 per cent are women, he added.
Hampton also got some digs in at his opponents and reminded the audience of the $40,000 pay increase Premier Dalton McGuinty received just before Christmas, while noting that Conservative Leader John Tory took the 25-per-cent raise, too.
"In one fell swoop, Mr. McGuinty gave himself an immediate pay raise that is almost double what the average woman in Ontario will earn in a year," Hampton said.
"Elected political representatives should identify with the people that elected them, not with the people on Bay Street," he said, referring to Toronto's business district.
Hampton said women will turn to the NDP because of the party's pledges to raise the minimum wage immediately to $10 an hour and to eliminate the health tax for low-income workers.
Related
Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
