For immediate release:
July 17, 2008

ST. THOMAS JOB LOSSES PROVE FLAWED LIBERAL POLCIES NOT WORKING FOR ONTARIO: BARRETT
PC MPP wonders if 720 new job losses will finally drive
McGuinty Liberals to action

(Queen's Park) - Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Toby Barrett
(Haldimand-Norfolk) today urged the McGuinty Liberals to hold an
economic summit and reverse their harmful economic policies after a St.
Thomas truck plant cut 720 jobs today.

"When will the McGuinty Liberals finally admit that their flawed
economic plan isn't working? Will another 720 jobless Ontarians be the
straw that finally breaks the camel's back?" asked Barrett. "The
McGuinty Liberals can't keep convincing themselves that their plan is
working when jobs are being cut on a weekly basis in Ontario. That's why
we are urging them to hold an economic summit now."

Earlier this week, PC Party Leader John Tory called on the McGuinty
Liberals to hold an economic summit with business, labour, academic,
federal and municipal leaders and develop a new plan to save jobs and
revive Ontario's economy.

St. Thomas has been particularly hard hit. The 720 job cuts at Sterling
Truck Corp. are in addition to 600 previous layoffs at the same plant,
400 at the local Magna plant and 1,200 at the Formet Inc. plant.

Barrett said 3,000 recent job losses in a city of 36,000 is proof
positive that Ontario is overdue for a new economic strategy. The PC
Party has made a number of suggestions to help pull Ontario from its
economic slump, but the McGuinty Liberals have stubbornly refused to
change course.

"Dalton McGuinty can refuse to listen to our Party's suggestions to stop
the economy's slide, but he can't ignore the people who have been hit
hardest with this slump," said Barrett. "Ontarians can't afford the
Liberals' dithering and delaying any longer. It's time for Dalton
McGuinty to convene an economic summit and help pull Ontario back from
the edge of a recession now."

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For more information:
Toby Barrett, MPP
(519) 428-0446