Mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi may be in the Labour Day Parade on Monday, but organizers say he won't be welcome there.
The Toronto and York Region Labour Council invites candidates it endorses to the march on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and this year that means inviting Joe Pantalone as labour's choice for mayor.The parade's theme is "protecting public services" and council president John Cartwright said it's bizarre Rossi and Sarah Thomson want to crash the event, considering both are "pledged to dismantle public services" through privatization.Rossi has also said he wants to sell off Toronto Hydro. "Nobody's going to get physical, but they're unwanted guests," Cartwright said.Thomson cried foul, saying in a statement Cartwright "did not bother to learn about my labour policy and made a very ill-informed decision on behalf of his members."She promised to take part from the sidewalk, adding Labour Day "is designed to celebrate economic and social achievement of all Torontonians."Rossi said he's looking forward to marching with Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), a construction union that supports his bid for mayor.The labour council and city employees decided months ago to back Pantalone, who said his exclusive invitation among the contenders marks him "as the only progressive mayoral candidate."Other opponents decided to stay away.George Smitherman turned down an invitation to march with a union local. "He doesn't want to make an issue of it," said Erika Mozes, a spokesperson said Friday.â?¨Rob Ford's campaign also confirmed he won't be there.The council invited candidates for school board and city council who Cartwright said are standing with its member groups on key issues, including worker's rights and the environment.