LONDON, Ont. - A group of tearful parents confronted Premier Dalton McGuinty on Tuesday, begging him to end the strikes that are hindering care for their disabled adult children as picketing workers vowed to make disability funding an election issue.
Joan Ingram, whose 40-year-old daughter Karen requires constant care and frequent trips to the hospital, stopped McGuinty as he entered a local community centre.
"You don't know the half of it because you don't have a child like that,'' a weeping Ingram told McGuinty. "If you had a child like that ... you would understand what we're going through, but you don't.''
"You don't have to have a child,'' McGuinty replied. "You have to have a heart.''
"That's the trouble,'' Ingram said. "You don't have a heart.''
The parents joined about 200 striking community living workers to protest outside a community centre where McGuinty reannounced the funding of 20 defibrillators.
About 1,200 unionized workers went out on strike this weekend in the London area, affecting about 1,600 disabled patients in community group homes. Workers are looking to boost their hourly wage to $23, up from about $17.
Ontario politicians gave themselves a 25 per cent raise before their winter break, Ingram said, so the least they can do is give a decent raise to people who spend their days changing diapers and looking after adults, many of whom who have the maturity of children.
"Why not help us now?'' Ingram sobbed.
The emotional confrontation derailed McGuinty's swing through a town considered by many to be up for grabs in the October election. The Liberals have a lot to lose in the area - seats held by two cabinet ministers, including Labour Minister Steve Peters, and the past president of the Liberal party.
Union members and the New Democrats vowed to make the underfunding of community disability services a key election issue in cities like this one.
But McGuinty said the Liberals have already increased funding for community living centres by 30 per cent, and there is little the province can do to settle the strike. Some 10 other community living centres have signed contracts, he said, including ones in nearby Sarnia and Windsor.
Still, McGuinty said he was moved by the plight of parents he talked to, and acknowledged the difficult job community living workers do.
"I worked as an orderly after high school,'' said McGuinty, adding most of his patients were veterans.
"I bathed men, I shaved men, I brushed their hair, I brushed their teeth, I changed their diapers. I have a profound and intimate understanding of the kind of work they do and how important it is.''
But both parents and workers say the Liberals should show them their appreciation by writing a cheque or they will suffer the consequences at the ballot box.
"We're not asking for miracles,'' parent Freddy Couture said to McGuinty. "We're asking (you) to channel the money that is needed.''
Nancy Schembri, a 24-year veteran employee with Community Living London, said striking workers have been offered a two per cent raise, which isn't enough to recruit and retain well-educated, qualified people.
Years of underfunding have led to a "crisis'' which the Liberals have a responsibility to fix, she said.
"Oct. 10 is coming,'' said Schembri, as fellow protesters chanted "election year.''
"There are a lot of people who are very upset with what's happening in the sector.''
NDP Leader Howard Hampton said people in the London aren't the only ones disillusioned with the Liberals right now. It's hard for people to swallow a two per cent pay raise when the Liberals spearheaded a 25 per cent pay increase for provincial politicians in December, Hampton said.
"This is sort of a symbol of what's been happening across the province,'' he said.
