“What Ontarians don’t want are the same old tired talking points…”
- Dalton McGuinty on the opposition parties, The National Post, February 21, 2012

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario has racked up $302.4 million in new debt and, based on current trends, will have lost another 1,800 full-time jobs in the week since the Drummond report’s release – yet all Ontarians have heard is more vapid rhetoric from their Premier, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak charged today.

“Tuesday’s return of the Legislature was a chance for Dalton McGuinty to explain how he plans to act after months of dithering in the face of a mounting crisis,” Hudak said. “And what did we get from the Premier? Talking points.”

“I want to take the opportunity to thank Don Drummond and the other commissioners for the important work that they have done.”

“I believe we can in fact achieve that destination by working together…”

“Our shared responsibility now is to debate the best way for us to move forward together.”

“We look forward to hearing from Ontarians.”

“All those opportunities will, I’m sure, provide us with even better advice with respect to the best way to move forward, and we look forward to doing that.”

“Our responsibility at this point in time is to continue to listen… We’re on track to doing that and will continue to do that.”

“There are all kinds of stakeholders present but not so many when it comes to representing the future.”

“But again, it’s all about making choices, choices informed by our values.”

Hudak said that at a minimum, Dalton McGuinty must explain how he will compensate for the single recommendation he has rejected – terminating the $1.5 billion full-day kindergarten program – and still achieve Drummond’s overall balanced budget schedule.

“Ontarians are looking to Queen’s Park for leadership and for a plan,” Hudak said. “They want an end to tinkering and ad-hockery when it comes to managing the size and cost of government and the state of our economy.”

Hudak pledged to continue tabling ideas for turning Ontario around and restoring hope: “A legislated public sector wage freeze, for example, that would net $2 billion in savings and offset the cost of full-day kindergarten is just one of them.

“Above all, Ontarians shouldn’t be misled that it took a Don Drummond for the Liberals to wake up to their spending crisis. They are the government – they have known it all along.”

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