Hampton blames McGuinty power policies for job losses

News Release

NDP Leader Howard Hampton said the McGuinty Liberals energy and forest product policies struck another victim.
Domtar announced today the permanent closure of its Cornwall pulp and paper mill resulting in the loss of 520 additional jobs on top of 390 jobs lost in the past year and the closure of two of its paper machines at its Ottawa mill resulting in the loss of another 185 positions.
“Mills continue to announce layoffs and closures, even after the McGuinty Liberals forest products strategy was announced. This proves the strategy is a failure.  The fact that the McGuinty Liberals refuse to extend the rate cap on Hydro’s so-called unregulated assets past April 1, just adds to the job carnage,” said Hampton.
Over 900 jobs were lost today on top of the 42,000 manufacturing jobs that have been lost in Ontario in past year alone.  Weyerhaueser in Dryden has announced layoffs, Cascades in Thunder Bay has announced layoffs, and now McGuinty Liberals energy policy dealt a crippling blow to the Cornwall economy with the announcement of the Domtar closure.
“Union leaders and industry leaders believe you don’t understand the seriousness of this. They’re asking for a meeting with you, Premier. They have no confidence in your forest sustainability competitiveness strategy and they have no confidence in your minister. They want a meeting with you, Premier, before thousands more jobs are lost. Are you going to do that, Premier? Will you meet with them?” asked Hampton in Question Period.  McGuinty was noncommittal.