For Immediate Release
October 22, 2008

Hardeman Disappointed in Economic Statement

 

QUEEN’S PARK – Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, said that today’s economic statement lacked a plan for Ontario’s economy and demonstrated that through mismanagement the McGuinty government has spent their way into a deficit.

“Today Dalton McGuinty and his government missed another opportunity to take action to protect jobs and help our businesses deal with economic challenges,” said Hardeman.

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan today released the government’s Fall 2008 Economic Statement, which revealed a $500 million deficit. Hardeman said that the government could have reined in their spending, reduced waste and avoided that deficit.

“Over the last five years the McGuinty government increased program spending 50% and wasted money on everything from grants to cricket clubs to sending support cheques to deceased farmers,” said Hardeman. “They spent their way into this problem and their solution is burden Ontarians more debt, reduce spending on nurses and Family Health Teams while they continue to ignore the economic challenges.”

Hardeman also pointed to Ontario’s bloated public sector, noting that the McGuinty Liberals have hired more public sector employees since October 2003 than all other provinces combined. While government employment has soared, Ontario has seen only 700 full-time private sector jobs created in the last year.

“Taxpayers in Oxford and across Ontario have tightened their belts to deal with the economic challenges,” said Hardeman. “At the same time this government ignored all the expert advice that said they needed to reduce spending and focus on making Ontario more competitive. Now Ontario taxpayers will have to pay the price.”

 

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