 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE QUEEN’S PARK - In response to today’s Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) report on the McGuinty Liberal’s dismal record on affordable housing, Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP and Ontario Progressive Conservative Housing Critic, is calling on the McGuinty Liberals to apologize for yet another broken promise. “The list of McGuinty Liberal broken promises grows longer and longer by the day,” said Hardeman. “It has been obvious for some time that Dalton McGuinty has no intention of investing in affordable housing like he promised and today we have yet another indication that is the case.” The CCPA study points out that Ontario is only spending 14 cents per person per day on affordable housing -- less than half of what the province was spending seven years ago under the former Progressive Conservative government. Study author Michael Shapcott says the Liberal government is spending $669 million on affordable housing compared to the $1.4 billion Ontario spent in 2000. “In 2003, Dalton McGuinty made some big promises to those in need of a home,” said Hardeman. “He threw around a lot of big numbers and said basically anything he thought would get him elected. Now we find out that he has actually slashed funding for affordable housing by more than half. I think Dalton McGuinty owes a lot of people, waiting for a home, an apology.” In the last general election the McGuinty Liberals promised to build 20,000 affordable housing units and to provide 35,000 shelter allowances. Currently neither commitment has been fulfilled. Only an estimated 3,000 affordable units exist (15% of the promised amount) and the shelter allowances remain largely undelivered. “Ontarians’ in need of assistance in finding and affording a place to live are worse off under Dalton McGuinty, despite what he promised them,” added Hardeman. -30- |
 |