There’s a call for the provincial government to change the arbitration process for essential services like police and firefighters.
That’s where a the labour contracts are decided by a judge who is not associated with a union or management.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President Charla Robinson says this is putting heavy pressure on municipal budgets.
She notes the system has caused the costs for providing police and fire services to balloon to over 3 times the rate of inflation since 2002.
Robinson says these costs are then passed on to business through higher taxes, something which many can’t afford. (File photo)