premier in TBay

Supporting Good Northern Ontario Jobs

Premier Visits Bombardier Plant in Thunder Bay

THUNDER BAY, ON, Sept. 15, 2011 /CNW/ - Premier Dalton McGuinty today highlighted the Ontario Liberal Plan to create and protect jobs in Northern Ontario during a stop in Thunder Bay.
"Ontario Liberals are committed to a strong Northern economy with good Northern Ontario jobs, including right here at Bombardier," said McGuinty. "Our Ontario Liberal Plan is all about creating jobs and strengthening Northern communities."
McGuinty made the comments at the Bombardier manufacturing plant, where the Ontario government's commitment to GO Transit has meant purchases of 150 new coaches between 2004 and 2011 and a recent purchase of 50 coaches.
On Monday, Premier McGuinty announced that the Ontario Liberals will expand GO train service to two-way, full-day service, on all corridors — more than doubling the current number of coaches. All of which supports good jobs for Ontario families living in Thunder Bay.
McGuinty, who was joined by Thunder Bay-Superior North candidate Mike Gravelle and Thunder Bay-Atikokan candidate Bill Mauro, took the opportunity to outline the Ontario Liberal Northern Platform, which includes many elements to create jobs and further strengthen the Northern economy:

• Supporting Northern jobs by increasing the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to $110 million and increasing the number of jobs it supports
• Protecting jobs by reducing industrial electricity rates by 25% through the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program, which will be made permanent
• Keeping the North moving by improving Northern road, rail, and air links
• Opening new mines — at least eight in the next 10 years
• Investing in Northern brainpower with a new law school at Lakehead University
• Attracting new investment and jobs with the development of the Ring of Fire

The Harris-Hudak PCs gutted transit and made a mess of GO Transit in particular. First, they downloaded GO to the municipalities, then uploaded it again. When Tim Hudak was Northern Development Minister in that government, he helped the PCs download $3 billion in costs onto cities and towns, causing property tax hikes and massive cuts to public services. Today, the Hudak PCs have a $14 billion hole in their platform — that means deep cuts that will put our transit, education and health care at risk.
The NDP would introduce a crushing $9 billion in job-killing taxes and impose a moratorium on development north of 51, which would kill the Ring of Fire and destroy jobs in every Northern community.
Both opposition parties would take Ontario off track at the worst time.
"What we've accomplished in the North is nothing short of amazing," said McGuinty. "But there is much more to do and Ontario Liberals have a serious plan to keep building on the progress we've made, together."
For further information: Ontario Liberal Party Media Office:
416 961-3800 ext. 328