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Flynn promises fairness from labour minister by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 11 | Thursday, March 27, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn says he will bring a balanced approach to the workforce as Ontario's new Minister of Labour. Flynn's new position was announced Tuesday as part of Premier Kathleen Wynne's cabinet shuffle. The Oakville MPP replaces Yasir Naqvi, who was moved to Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. "You often get people in this role who have a tendency towards one side. They may be very supportive of labour or very supportive of business. I've lived with a foot in both worlds," Flynn told the Oakville Beaver while attending an event at Town Hall Tuesday night. Fair treatment "You're going to see from me, somebody that takes both sides seriously. Both sides are going to leave my office thinking they've been treated fairly and listened to." Flynn said he was "pleasantly surprised" when Wynne named him as the new labour minister. "It is something that you always hope for. You always want to be part of a cabinet. I've been disappointed in the past when I wasn't named, but I still knew that my No. 1 task was to look after the people in my community. It was a surprise that happened very, very quickly," said Flynn. If it were up to the local MPP to choose a ministry, labour would have been his choice, he said, noting it was an "added bonus" when the premier asked him to serve that role. "I'm feeling quite good about it, I'm feeling very privileged to have this honour. It's something that I've always wanted to do," said Flynn. "I've got a strong interest in the field of labour. I was raised in a home that was very trade union-oriented." As the Minister of Labour, Flynn said his No. 1 job is still to represent the people of Oakville. "My first responsibility is to the people who elected me, my constituents. That's my No. 1 job, whether I'm in cabinet or not. But when you're extended the privilege by the premier to serve in a higher capacity, it is a privilege I certainly plan to make the most of," said Flynn. Good track record The Oakville MPP said he's leading a ministry for a province that has a "very proud track record" when it comes to working conditions. "Ontario has always been a place where we've believed in fairness, decency and dig- nity in work. Other jurisdictions don't feel that way. You see some working conditions around the world that we wouldn't tolerate in Ontario," said Flynn. "We've got a very strong economy and yet we found a way to make sure people are treated with the dignity they deserve when they go to work every morning." Flynn also hopes he'll be in his new role for some time. With the provincial budget around the corner, the Liberal government faces the possibility of a snap-election. While Flynn doesn't expect that to happen, if it did, he said there's a "very good" chance the Liberals would form a majority government. "I don't see the ingredients being there to have an election. Some polls I've seen recently about people's voting intentions in the 905 (area code) show that we're doing extremely well," said Flynn. "I don't see it being in the other parties' interest to have an election. We're quite prepared to go. We've got a plan in place so we can move on 24 hours notice into an election." Not Everyone has 20/20 vision Hearing is no different COME AND EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE! If in the last one year you have not got your hearing assessed Get A FREE Hearing Test TODAY 905-825-1003 info@hearingexcellence.ca · www.hearingexcellence.ca Main Street Relationships, Bay Street Results. CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL FAMILY LAW and FAMILY MEDIATION CIVIL LITIGATION CRIMINAL LAW LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT REAL ESTATE ESTATES & TRUSTS ENVIRONMENTAL & MUNICIPAL Halton's Law Firm (905) www.omh.ca 842-8030 Owen Duguid Ruhia Jokhio Paul D. Stunt Marian G. Gage Robert Krizman Kenneth W. Watts Brian J. Hanna Jarvis G. Sheridan Tanya A. Leedale Larry S. Gangbar Harold R. Watson James McAskill Gayle Wadden Robert A. Watson Danny Chou Carolyn McCarney Alexandra Manthorpe Chantel Goldsmith 700 Kerr Street, Oakville, Ontario L6K 3W5 (905) 842-8030 · www.omh.ca