October 31, 2006
Members’ Statements
AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): The McGuinty government has once again demonstrated that they don't deserve the trust of the people of Ontario. In the spring, the McGuinty government sent cheques out to municipalities with no strings attached but said that they trusted the municipalities would use the money on roads and bridges as intended. But in the same situation, when the federal government sent a cheque to Ontario for affordable housing, the McGuinty government demonstrated they do not deserve to be trusted.

The McGuinty government had a chance to fix their broken promise on affordable housing, but they chose to lock $392 million in the bank instead of keeping their promise.

Their high taxes and economic policies are costing Ontario jobs and increasing the need for affordable housing, but the McGuinty government is refusing to spend the money.
They've tried to blame the delay on the federal government, but the facts are clear. The federal government paid their share.

The hold-up isn't the federal government. The hold-up is the fact that the McGuinty cabinet is keeping the money locked in a trust fund while they debate whether to take some of the money and use it in other projects.

Maybe they're saving the money to take another letter out of the OLGC or to give more pay increases to their friends.

The Liberals have no problem announcing the money and doing the photo ops. For once, the McGuinty government should follow through on a promise and spend the money, as announced, on affordable housing.