For immediate release:
January 10, 2005

Debt rising by $100 per second: Ontarians continue to pay more, get less

Pre-Budget Consultations Launched in Sault Ste. Marie, But McGuinty Liberals are Not Listening

Sault Ste. Marie – As the McGuinty Liberals begin 2005 provincial budget consultations, Ontarians are still reeling from last year’s $2.6 billion regressive health tax, delisted health care services and a provincial debt that is growing at $100 per second.

Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett says that there is no indication from the government that Ontarians will see any relief in the coming budget. Even recent remarks from the Minister of Finance that there will be no tax increases in the budget are meaningless, considering this government’s track record for breaking promises.

“Individuals and businesses have to plan,” said Barrett – a member of the Finance Committee holding pre-budget consultations. “It’s increasingly clear that McGuinty has no plan. This indecision and uncertainty on the part of the government is damaging to everyone living in – or looking to invest in the Province of Ontario.”

At this time last year, both McGuinty and the Minister of Finance, Greg Sorbara were still promising not to raise taxes. They spent millions of tax-dollars pretending to listen to Ontarians through three weeks of committee hearings, months of town hall meetings and ‘Citizens Dialogues’ run by a private consulting company.

“At no point did the people of Ontario ask for a regressive health premium or for critical health services (eye exams, chiropractic and physiotherapy services) to be privatized,” said Conservative MPP, John O’Toole (Durham). “Dalton McGuinty forced the people of Ontario to pay more, while providing less service in return.”

At the hearings held today, presenters including the Sault Regional Hospital indicated that they are ‘taxed out’, and that there needs to be more investment – not less – in the provinces health care system. The Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie also expressed his concern that there are two levels of service in Ontario – one for southern Ontario, and a different – lesser level of service – for the north.

“This year, the McGuinty government has $3 billion in new money to spend on health care ($2.4B from the regressive health tax and $825M from the federal government),” said O’Toole. “That won’t even fund the rate of inflation in the health sector for existing programs.”

“Despite the promises made by the Premier, wait times aren’t getting any shorter, hospitals are being forced to lay off staff and close beds, and key health services have been privatized,” said Barrett. “This is evidence of Dalton McGuinty’s misplaced priorities, and shows how out of touch his government has become with the real concerns of hard working families in northern Ontario.”

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 416-325-8404 or 1-800-903-8629