Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak congratulated Pina Martino on her nomination as the Ontario PC candidate for Etobicoke Centre. Hudak applauded and thanked Martino for her unwavering focus on reducing the size and cost of government and kick-starting the economy to create private-sector jobs.

“As a political activist focused on fiscal responsibility, a lawyer and a mother, Pina understands the priorities for a brighter future and knows how to create the private sector jobs that will lead Ontario back to prosperity,” said Hudak. “While the current government continues to deepen Ontario’s economic crisis, the Ontario PC Party is promoting solutions to create new jobs and rein in government spending.”

“Better days are ahead for Ontario, but only if we get our fiscal house in order and our economic fundamentals back in line in the face of a $30 billion deficit and an ongoing jobs crisis,” said Martino. “The PC Party has been ahead of the curve on the economy from the start. Our Party is the only one talking seriously about how we get private sector job growth back on track.”

Martino has lived in Etobicoke Centre for 37 years and currently serves as a senior advisor to Mayor Rob Ford working to identify wasteful municipal spending and balance budgets. During her prior experience as a legislative advisor to the Official Opposition, she was part of the Ontario PC team that uncovered the Liberal e-health scandal that cost taxpayers more than $1-billion without delivering results.

“We need policies that will encourage growth and put us on the path to prosperity,” stated Martino, noting several specific Ontario PC plans for private sector job growth which include:

• Balancing the budget to encourage businesses to expand and hire
• Lowering taxes for job-creating businesses
• Treating affordable energy as a cornerstone of economic growth
• A more flexible and responsive approach to regulation, and
• More skilled trades jobs by modernizing the apprenticeship system.