“The 14% arbitrated award given our firefighter association is not sustainable….It’s not sustainable for a community our size, and not sustainable from the point of view of property taxpayers.”
- Owen Sound Mayor Deborah Haswell (Toronto Sun, January 31, 2012)
MEAFORD – Thriving local businesses and communities are essential to Ontario’s economic come back, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak said today, while addressing members of the Owen Sound, Blue Mountains and Meaford Chambers of Commerce.
“Ontario faces unprecedented economic challenges. But rather than fixing the problems here at home, Dalton McGuinty blames Europe and the United States for our troubles. It explains why he hasn’t presented a single new idea since the election,” Hudak said.
“I refuse to sit back as a debt crisis sends hard-earned tax dollars to debt servicing costs. These funds should go towards tax relief for job creators and new roads and bridges for communities,” Hudak added.
“This is a minority parliament. The Liberals cannot rule with an iron fist. I’m determined to get results from the opposition benches.”
Hudak was joined by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker who said: “Between the $16-billion deficit and 560,000 Ontarians out of work, I wouldn’t blame Wiarton Willie if he never emerged from his burrow again. We can’t afford six more weeks of this.”
Hudak commented that “My Caucus colleagues and I have put forward responsible and practical ideas to tackle the province’s debt crisis and create jobs.”
“Central to our plan is to fix Ontario’s broken public sector salary arbitration system. Communities shouldn’t be forced to pay outrageous settlements, resulting in increased property taxes on businesses to cover budget short falls.”
Other PC pro-growth ideas include:
“Ours is a fair, practical and responsible plan to turn around Ontario’s economy – and it starts with local growth and success,” concluded Hudak.
Authorized by the CFO of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
