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New Organization Launched to Expose Ontario Liberal Front's Agenda

Building Trades Council affiliates provide vast majority of Working Families Coalition funds supporting Liberals and then reap millions in taxpayer-funded benefits, yet stay mysteriously in shadows, Working Families Watch charges

TORONTO (Sept. 7, 2007) - A new organization seeking to uncover close links between Building Trades Council-affiliated unions, the Ontario Liberals and millions of dollars in taxpayer funds was launched today.

The links, which come together through the so-called Working Families Coalition (WFC), are being placed under a spotlight by the newly-created Working Families Watch. Through information posted on a newly-unveiled website, www.WorkingFamiliesWatch.ca, the organization seeks to spur further investigation of the facts - including Building Trades Council-friendly legislation and generous funding of their affiliates' programs - during the upcoming provincial election campaign.

"It is wrong for Liberal Party members and their supporters to organize a $5-million attack fund to get McGuinty re-elected but not have to answer to Elections Ontario for their finances, or to the people of Ontario for their real agenda," said 26-year old Anas Melhem of Toronto, explaining why he created the website. "This is all the more important when legislation favourable to the Building Trades Council unions and millions of dollars in taxpayer funds are involved."

"I want to create a forum for people to get the real facts about the coalition and give them the tools so that they can ask questions of their local candidates, and to judge for themselves," Melhem added. "McGuinty is always talking about an accountable and transparent government. I am holding him to his word."

For example, approximately 88% of the funding for the WFC comes from Building Trades Council-affiliated unions, according to a recent news report. But not one word on the WFC website deals with construction issues.

Working Families Watch is asking Ontarians to get involved by providing information on the flow of funds to WFC along with the Building Trades' political links. Information should be sent to info@WorkingFamiliesWatch.ca.

"By shedding light on the facts, we can and will make a positive contribution to transparency in our politicians' agendas during this campaign," Melhem said.

In a recent development, Elections Ontario has warned WFC that it would not register the group as a "third party" under that name.

For More Information,

Contact Anas Melhem
416-550-3415
www.WorkingFamiliesWatch.ca

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Newsletters

September 21, 2007

Speeches

Delegation to the City of Hamilton Council

September 12, 2007

Articles

Graham Murray's Inside Queen's Park note on Working Families Watch is published by www.straightgoods.ca

September 26, 2007

Working Families coalition not a front for Liberal party: Dillon

Organization represents “all Ontario families and their concerns”

September 20, 2007, Daily Commercial News

Group at centre of controversy ordered to change name
September 1, 2007, Toronto Star

Partisanship can't be regulated
August 27, 2007, National Post

McGuinty denies links to union-funded group
August 25, 2007, Toronto Star

Union group called shill for Liberals
August 24, 2007, Ottawa Citizen

Ontario Liberal Party must obey election laws
August 23, 2007, Canada News Wire

Tory faces union ad campaign
June 15, 2007, Toronto Star

Blog Articles

Working Families Website: Liberal Fund Raising Front

Free Dominion, September 26, 2007

- This post informs readers about the Anas Melhem interview on www.therightside.ca

Podcast Interview with Anas Melhem by The Right Side, with Doug Aldridge www.therightside.ca

September 25, 2007

- In depth interview with Anas Melhem of Working Families Watch on why he started the watch website.

The Toronto Sun's Christina Blizzard's take on Working Families

Posted by Joanne's Journey, September 22, 2007

- Documents that person behind the 2003 negative Working Families Coalition ads was Marcel Wieder, a well-known Liberal "dirty ops" specialist.

Organized Labour and the Ontario Election

The Daily Dissident, September 17, 2007

- This NDP sympathetic blog repeats the Toronto Star's Ian Urquart's report that WFC is attacking the NDP because of its claim in writing to the NDP that only the WFC has the right to use the term "Working Families".

From the Ontario Liberals to the ALF-CIO to the Working Families Coalition

"Working Families Coalition" Watch

Posted by Christian Conservative September 7, 2007

Union ad suggests McGuinty responsible for 1993 hospital expansion - What did Fiberals have to do with Sick Kids’ atrium? Er, nothing.  Posted by Joan Tintor, September 7, 2007

Do non-unionized familes work too?

Posted by Joanne's Journey, September 5, 2007

Working Families Coalition = Farce

Evan Soikie's Blog, September 2, 2007

" This organization is a farce, and I highly suggest that you take their television spots with a large spoonful of salt."

Probe seeked over Liberal `Families' ties

"Working Fami-Lies" by Liz Laster, August 24, 2007

- "The Ontario Progressive Conservatives have asked Elections Ontario to investigate a group called the Working Families Coalition because of its close ties to Premier Dalton McGuinty's office."