Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement today:

"For over 120 years, Labour Day has been an opportunity to celebrate hard-working people in every corner of our province and reaffirm our commitment to building an Ontario where everyone can have good opportunities and be treated fairly at work. This year, Labour Day feels especially meaningful and relevant. I have spent the summer traveling around our province, and what I am hearing is that people are worried. They don't know what the future holds, only that it is uncertain.

Today, even with one of Canada's strongest economies and an unemployment rate that's consistently below the national average, there are still too many people in Ontario who can't get ahead, don't feel secure in their job or can't get a fair deal from their employer.

At times like this, I believe it is the responsibility of government to take a stand and protect people's right to a good job and a decent paycheque. We need to do all we can to ensure that people are given every chance to get ahead during this period of change.

That's why Ontario is stepping up to create more opportunity and fairness for workers with our plan for Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs. We are taking historic action to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, ensure part-time workers are paid the same hourly wage as full-time workers, introduce paid sick days for every worker, improve enforcement of employment laws and modernize the certification process for unions.

The importance of fighting for fairness, security and decency at work is a fight the labour movement has long understood. Labour Day's roots go all the way back to the time of Confederation, when workers organized to fight for a more reasonable work week. We have made so much progress building a fairer economy since that time, but that work is not finished.

There have always been loud and strong arguments for the rich and the well-connected. The arguments for those struggling to make ends meet or just too busy getting by often go unheard or unheeded. Government exists to seek out and hear those voices. My purpose is to make real a vision of a fairer, better Ontario. If there is anywhere in the world capable of creating that society, it is us right here, right now."