In a passionate speech to delegates today, NDP Leader Howard Hampton called on Dalton McGuinty to put Ontario’s working families first and immediately recall the Ontario Legislature to pass the NDP’s Living Wage Bill.

“While banks, corporations and the wealthy keep getting richer, everyday Ontarians are getting squeezed – they’re working longer and harder for less. It’s time for fairness, it’s time to give working families a break,” Hampton said.

“If Dalton McGuinty can ram through a $40,000 pay hike for himself in eight short days, he can act now – without delay – to recall the Legislature and make the $10 minimum wage the law in Ontario too,” he said.

Hampton’s call was met with a rousing ovation by the 1,000 New Democrats attending the party’s Fresh Ideas New Energy Convention. They massively endorsed Hampton’s call by passing an emergency resolution backing the recall. They also called on McGuinty Liberal MPPs to forego their pay hike until Ontario’s minimum wage is increased to a level that won’t leave people living in poverty.

Hampton urged progressive Ontarians to unite behind the NDP in the next election.

“Dalton McGuinty’s record speaks for itself – three years of unreliable leadership, disappointments and broken promises. He is out of touch with the most pressing concerns of everyday Ontarians – like better health care, better public education, real action on the environment, good jobs, fair wages and a fair deal for working families,” Hampton said.

"I invite progressive people across Ontario to ‘Get Orange’ and help today's NDP build a better Ontario – an Ontario that puts working families first, " he said.