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LABOUR CARAVAN: THE RECESSION HAS TAKEN A HUGE TOLL ON THE JOB MARKET IN ONTARIO.

June 10, 2009

THE RECESSION HAS TAKEN A HUGE TOLL ON THE JOB MARKET IN ONTARIO.

MORE THAN 360-THOUSAND PEOPLE THROWN OUT OF WORK SINCE LAST OCTOBER.

WITH A PROVINCIAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 8.4 PERCENT -- THE HIGHEST IN 11 YEARS -- LABOUR GROUPS HAVE STARTED A CAMPAIGN TO DOCUMENT THE LIVES BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS.

... BY TRAVELLING ACROSS ONTARIO.

NEWSWATCH'S DARRYN DAVIS EXPLAINS.

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THESE WHEELS HAVE SEEN A LOT OF KILOMETRES.... AND ALMOST AS MANY SAD STORIES.

THE 'DRIVE TO WORK CARAVAN' IS MAKING A THREE THOUSAND KILOMETRE TREK ACROSS THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO GATHERING THE STORIES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE, SUDDENLY UNEMPLOYED DUE TO THE FALTERING ECONOMY.

THE ONTARIO FEDERATION OF LABOUR IS SPONSORING THE TRIP... IRENE HARRIS OF THE OFL SAYS SHE'S TIRED OF HEARING THE 'OTHER' STORY-LINE, FROM COMPANIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

IRENE HARRIS

"WE KEEP HEARING BOTH FROM GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND CORPORATE LEADERS WORKERS HAVE TOO MUCH YOU KNOW THERE'S THIS THEORY ABOUT THEIR PENSIONS ARE TOO RICH, THEIR BENEFITS ARE TOO RICH, THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THE WHOLE THINGS BEEN BADLY MANAGED."

DEBI WELLS:

"IT'S OK TO MAKE A GOOD WAGE, IT'S OK TO HAVE BENEFITS, IT'S OK TO HAVE SOME PENSION TO COUNT ON WHEN YOU'RE OLDER."

DEBI WELLS WITH THE KINGSTON AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL SAYS WHILE KINGSTON HAS DONE FAIRLY WELL SO FAR... BUT GOOD PAYING JOBS HAVE STILL BEEN LEAVING THE AREA.

THE CARAVAN'S LAST STOP WILL BE IN TORONTO ON THE TWENTY FIFTH OF JUNE... WHERE THEY HOPE TO MEET WITH PREMIER DALTON MCGUINTY... TO PUSH FOR EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REFORM.

MPP JOHN GERRETSEN SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT HAS WORKED TO PROTECT MANUFACTURING JOBS... AND POINTS A FINGER AT OTTAWA, FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF ONTARIANS OUT OF A JOB.

JOHN GERRETSEN

"RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED IN ONTARIO SIMPLY AREN'T GETTING THE SAME LEVEL OF TREATMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF WEEKS THAT THEY CAN GET BENEFITS FOR AND THE NUMBER OF WEEKS THAT IT TAKES TO RECEIVE TO GET ANY BENEFITS. WE HAVE BEEN ADAMANT ABOUT THAT, THE PREMIER HAS BEEN ADAMANT ABOUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO HAS BEEN ADAMANT."

HARRIS AGREES, BUT HOPES THE PREMIER WILL PICK UP SOME OF THE SLACK.

IRENE HARRIS

"I THINK THE PREMIER'S GOT TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT IF THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH IT FEDERALLY WE NEED SOME SOURCE OF INCOME FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE ON."

WHEN THE DRIVE TO WORK CARAVAN REACHES ITS' FINAL DESTINATION IN TORONTO THEY WILL HAVE STOPPED IN FIFTY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE PROVINCE.... AND NO DOUBT, WILL HAVE QUITE A STORY TO TELL.

DARRYN DAVIS CKWS NEWSWATCH KINGSTON.

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