MPPs return to Queen’s Park today.

The NDP says they are ready to confront the Ford government over health care.

Interim leader Peter Tabuns says it starts with ending the wage-restricting Bill 124.

“The Premier said, “I’ll do whatever it takes to solve this problem,” except the one thing that would have a huge impact on retaining nurses and healthcare workers and bringing them back. As long as he does not move on this, I can’t see how this health care crisis is going to be solved,” says Tabuns.

Education contracts are also expected to be top of mind for the opposition.

Members of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions will be in a legal strike position on November 3.

Recent contract talks end without an agreement on the workers’ main issues, including wages.

The NDP’s Deputy Leader, Doly Begum, says many of those workers earn less than $40 thousand a year.

“They’re the ones who are not making ends meet right now, and we need to be able to bargain in good faith and say, well, you know what? We respect the work that you do. We are able to listen to you. Who’s going to suffer in the end if we don’t bargain in good faith? Parents and the children,” says Begum.

The NDP is also looking for the Ford government to address the issue of affordability and housing.

A fall economic statement is to be delivered next week.

Tabuns is hoping it addresses their priorities.

“A reinvestment in healthcare, dealing with the healthcare crisis. You need to deal with the cost-of-living crisis investment in our schools, making sure that they’re fair agreements with education workers. All those things should be priorities in that fall economic statement,” says Tabuns.

That statement will be released on November 4.