Unionized workers in Ontario rally for lost wages, transparency on $1B spent on privately administered government programs

A rally by OPSEU workers was held on June 3 in Toronto.

Hundreds of striking or locked-out public sector workers marched through Toronto’s streets earlier this week, as part of a coordinated series of rallies designed to show solidarity to some 4,000 workers provincewide.

Speakers at a rally in downtown Toronto on Wednesday called for a settlement that would return wages they argue were lost to a legislated wage gap and pushed for transparency on a surge past $1 billion in payments of tax dollars to private companies who administer public services.

‘Where’s the accountability?’

“That’s huge. Are we getting value for money? Where’s the accountability?,” JP Hornick, president of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU, said on Wednesday in Yorkville, next to the headquarters of one company, Accerta.

The demonstration worked its way down Bay Street, temporarily paused and blocked traffic at Bloor Street, and then stopped at a ministry office, as police officers routed cars around it.

Among the rallygoers was Patricia Crooks, who works as a community support worker Sistering, a women’s drop-in centre.

Crooks said she was marching because she was hoping to fund her organization and to regain wages she said were lost to Bill 124, a law that capped public sector wage increases and was later ruled unconstitutional.

“We’re burnt out and we need more money to help us,” she said.

Suzette Hamilton, a marcher, was fired up by the purchase of a $28.9 million Challenge 650 private airplane for travel by Premier Doug Ford – a purchase that sparked a blowback, with opposition members calling it a “gravy plane.”

The aircraft was ultimately returned to Bombardier for the same purchase price, but records released by the premier’s office showed it incurred $190,000 in taxpayer-funded expenses for maintenance and storage.

“He cut OSAP funding and then all of a sudden he got a plane,” she said, saying that’s a sign there is money for front-line services that is being spent elsewhere.

Ministry responds, says it is transparent

A spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Labour told CTV News Toronto that the aforementioned payments to private companies are rising because their roles and services are expanding, from administering employment services to autism services.

Two of those companies, WCG and Serco, served more than 150,000 clients last fiscal year, up from 40,000 two years prior, including tens of thousands on social assistance and people with disabilities. More than 50,000 of those who accessed services found a job, they said.

“Since 2021, the province has scaled up employment services, which correlates to the increase in funding. Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services model is built on accountability and results,” said Spenser Maki.

“WCG and Serco were selected through open, competitive processes and their funding is tied directly to performance. Providers meet strict KPIs and submit to rigorous Ministry reporting, meaning if they are not producing results, providers don’t get paid.”

Neither Accerta nor WCG responded to CTV News’ request for comment, though Serco said it employs 1,100 people and works “within the direction and guidelines provided to us by the Ontario government in service of its citizens.”

Report shows payments rose exponentially

An OPSEU report released Tuesday found payments to Accerta more than tripled from $202 million in 2018-2019 to $672 million in 2024-2025.

Payments sent to WCG, which the report describes as a for-profit employment services administrator owned by an Australian company backed by U.S. private equity, increased 525 per cent, from $36 million in 2021 to $225 million in 2025.

Legislature records show the companies regularly used lobbyist firms to interact with government officials.

“It seems to be a bit of circular logic. They get taxpayer money to administer the services, to pay the lobbyists who lobby the government for more taxpayer money,” Hornick, of OPSEU, added, calling for an audit on how the money is being spent.

In a statement, the Ontario NDP said the payments to the private administrators show the Ford government’s “contempt for taxpayers.”

“He throws millions at private jets for himself, and billions at an airport expansion that benefits Wall Street bankers, but cries poor when it’s time to fund OSAP, end hallway healthcare, or make life more affordable for working people,” party leader Marit Stiles said.