For immediate release:
March 22, 2007

Barrett: Ontario limps along as McGuinty continues to spend recklessly
McGuinty spends an extra $22 billion, but Ontario sees weak results

Queen’s Park—MPP Toby Barrett today said Dalton McGuinty has collected over $4,500 more per household in taxes since he was elected, but Ontario’s families and businesses have seen meager results in return.  Dalton McGuinty’s high taxes, reckless spending and weak leadership have chased 120,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs from Ontario.

“Ontario was once a leader of the whole country, and now it’s sputtering,” said Barrett.  “I don’t want Ontario to be the little engine that could.  Before McGuinty, Ontario was the big engine that did.

“Dalton McGuinty has increased annual spending by over $22 billion since he came to office – that’s $750,000 for every hour he has been in office.  It’s no wonder Ontario is limping along when it could be running.”

Barrett pointed to three areas where Dalton McGuinty’s spending spree has not achieved the results Ontarians deserve – in the economy, health care, and in Rural and Northern Ontario.

  • Ontario was dead last in economic growth in 2006 compared to the other provinces.  Despite over 120,000 manufacturing job losses over the last two years, Dalton McGuinty’s government has not introduced any sort of real plan for jobs.
  • Dalton McGuinty has virtually ignored the needs of the long-term care sector and as a result, seniors will suffer and wait times will lengthen.
  • Dalton McGuinty has continued his tradition of neglecting farmers by cutting more than $100 million from the Ministry of Agriculture budget - $191 million if he does not match the funds announced in this week’s federal budget. 
  • The Ministry of Natural Resources will see its budget cut by $36 million under McGuinty.

 

“Ontario needs strong leadership to make important decisions and deliver results,” said Barrett.  “Dalton McGuinty has broken his promises and failed to deliver that leadership.

“This government is awash in cash but it’s the taxpayers who continue to take a bath,” Barrett concluded.

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