WORKERS FIRST - WE DEMAND PROTECTION PETITION TO THE Ontario Legislature: We, the undersigned residents of Ontario, draw the attention of the Ontario Legislature to the urgent need to protect worker rights in termination situations. Too many workers are not being paid their rightful vacation, termination and severance pay when firms close their operations. Claims are also taking too long to process and enforce which leaves workers with no money during a critical period of income loss and permits employers to dispense with assets that are rightfully the workers. Under the current terms of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, workers are also not being treated equally due to various exceptions, exclusions and conditions. THEREFORE, the undersigned petitioners call upon the Legislature to: 1) establish a wage protection program that ensures that workers receive all the money owed to them when employers default for whatever reason. 2) change the Employment Standards Act so that all employees regardless of firm size have equal access to severance and mass termination conditions. 3) improve Ministry of Labour resources so that termination and severance claims can be processed quickly and effectively. 4) petition the federal government for changes in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act putting workers first in line for any payments to creditors.