Long on promises, short on solutions

By Howard Hampton
MPP

The recent Throne Speech has tied a new ribbon around failed old ideas but offers no plan to get Northerners back to work, NDP MPP Howard Hampton said today.
“The Liberals have done a fine job dressing up American-style, quick-fix schemes for our hospitals and the economy, but Ontarians know these are the same tired, old ideas that created this mess in the first place,” Hampton said.
“Northern Ontario families need a common-sense plan to create jobs, not a plan which is mum on allowing resources extracted from Northern Ontario communities to be sent elsewhere else for processing. Unfortunately, this Throne Speech offers lots of talk, but little action.”
Hampton added the speech offers little to combat the loss of thousands of good forestry jobs and fails to address sky-high, job-killing electricity prices. And as the Vale Inco strike rages on, the McGuinty Liberals continue to sit on their hands, instead of helping bring the sides back to the negotiating table.
“This Throne Speech shows how out of touch Dalton McGuinty truly is,” added Hampton.
The NDP MPP said instead of putting Ontario up for sale, the Premier should be focusing on proven, common-sense strategies that work:
A buy-local approach to public procurement that would strengthen local economies and create jobs by keeping investment closer to home.
An Ontario-first jobs policy that would ensure job-creation incentives are used to build skills capacity here in the province – not sending money overseas.
Proven health reforms that save money in the long run – starting with improvements to Ontario’s home-care system and initiatives focusing on disease prevention and healthy living – instead of hospital cuts that will decimate small and Northern hospitals.
A retirement plan like the one New Democrats have proposed – a practical plan that would provide Ontarians with greater economic security and dignity as they age, not more anxiety about whether their government will be there for them when they need it.
“Northern Ontario has lost 11,500 jobs in the last year alone. Northeast Ontario saw the unemployment rate go from 6.1% to 9.2% over the last year,” said Hampton.
“This simply isn’t the time for more old ideas dressed up in new packaging. Northerners deserve more than lofty talk that ignores their needs.”
A real plan is needed to ensure First Nations have the authority to protect the natural environment and benefit from revenue sharing from mining activities in their traditional territory.

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Media inquiries: Howard Hampton: 416-325-2750