Budget does nothing for NWO

By Howard Hampton
M.P.P. Kenora-RR

Dalton McGuinty’s latest budget leaves Northern Ontario families in the dust, still struggling to find jobs and cope with ever-increasing bills, says Kenora-Rainy River MPP, Howard Hampton.
“The McGuinty government is desperately trying to turn the corner, but it’s still on the road to nowhere and Northern families are once again being left in the dust,” said Hampton.
“Not even a political compass can get the McGuinty government headed in the right direction. They act as if Northern Ontario doesn’t even exist.”
“The government is cutting funding for important ministries like Natural Resources, Aboriginal Affairs and Municipal Affairs and Housing. It all spells very bad news for Northern Ontario,” he said.
Hampton pointed to the government’s reduced job creation targets as prime evidence of a government that is headed in the wrong direction.
“The government is now projecting 60,000 fewer new jobs over the next two years. How does that instill any confidence that this government knows what its doing? So many jobs have already been lost in Northwestern Ontario, and this budget doesn’t show any job opportunities,” he said.
“The government could have made different choices. Choices that would have helped Northern Ontarians,” Hampton stated.
“New Democrats called for tax fairness and relief for Northern families struggling to make ends meet as a result of escalating hydro and home heating bills and higher transportation costs. The McGuinty government chose instead to continue with reckless corporate tax giveaways,” he noted.
“This is a second-term government that has run out of steam. October 6 can’t come soon enough for Northern Ontario,” added Hampton.