For immediate release
May 29, 2007

LIBERALS DEFEAT PC MOTION TO PROTECT ONTARIO JOBS

QUEEN’S PARK - Today in the Ontario Legislature the Liberals used their majority to block an Opposition Day motion introduced by John Tory, leader the Progressive Conservative Party, that called on the government to recognize that there is a manufacturing jobs crisis and to finally create the jobs plan that the Legislature asked for over a year ago.

“Ontario has lost 137,000 manufacturing jobs since the beginning of 2005, last month we saw 13,000 manufacturing jobs lost across the province,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “The government needs to recognize this problem which is effecting families across this province who are worrying about their jobs or are unemployed and struggling to pay the bills.”

In December 2005, Ted Chudleigh, PC MPP for Halton, introduced a motion calling for a detailed government jobs initiative to be brought forward immediately. Although the motion was passed unanimously by the Legislature the government has not taken any action to date to create the plan. Today’s motion was defeated 41 to 24.

Under the McGuinty Liberals, Ontario's economic growth has fallen behind all other provinces and is now predicted by the Conference Board of Canada to be last in all of Canada for 2007.

The Progressive Conservative Party has repeatedly said that the government needs to do more to protect Ontario jobs:
In November 2006, Ted Arnott, PC MPP for Waterloo-Wellington, introduced a motion to have an all party committee investigate Ontario's industrial and economic competitiveness;
John Tory committed that if his party is elected they will move approximately 10% of government office space out of Toronto to help stimulate economies in smaller communities; and

On May 17, 2007, Ernie Hardeman brought forward his resolution to protect Ontario jobs that called on the Liberal government to repeal the tax hike on diamond mines as a first step.


“Oxford has been lucky to be chosen as the site for two large automotive plants, however we cannot afford to be complacent,” said Hardeman. “I have heard from business owners across Oxford who are struggling with government policies, red tape and high taxes. The government needs to do more to help them and protect Ontario jobs.”


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For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239