Doug Ford government will appeal Ontario court decision to strike down Bill 124

The Ontario government intends to appeal a court's decision that struck down a controversial bill that limited wages for public sector workers.

The Ontario government intends to appeal a court's decision that struck down a controversial bill that limited wages for public sector workers.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General tells CTV News Toronto that "we are reviewing the decision. Our intention is to appeal."

Justice Markus Koehnen made his decision Tuesday afternoon saying Bill 124 infringes on the applicants' rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Several unions and workers affected by the bill have been fighting the legislation that came into effect in 2019 and limits wage increases to one per cent a year for three years.

The government had said the bill was a time-limited approach to help eliminate the province’s deficit.

Last September, groups representing thousands of public sector employees went to court to fight the constitutionality of the bill.

The groups argued the bill violates a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that protects meaningful collective bargaining.