D'O quotes just about everybody except Wanda McQueen

Sault MPP David Orazietti quoted just about everybody except Algoma District School Board Chair Wanda McQueen in a statement delivered today in the Ontario Legislature.

Here's the full text of what David O. said:

********************** Thank you Mr. Speaker Residents and community leaders in Sault Ste. Marie have received, very positively, our provincial budget which was introduced last week.

Speaker, our government is playing a crucial role in addressing long-standing issues in Sault Ste. Marie, after years of ineffective representation by the NDP and by a Conservative Government that ignored our city.

Only 19 months ago we inherited a $5.5 billion deficit, when Ontarians were told the books were balanced.

We have now reduced the provincial deficit by $2.5 billion to $3 billion through a responsible balanced plan, to both re-invest in core provincial services, like health care and education, while effectively managing our finances.

Our budget contains no new taxes or tax increases.

And here is what community leaders in Sault Ste. Marie are saying about it - Speaker

Algoma University President, Celia Ross called the budget, (quote) "very good news for post-secondary education."

And said, "I'm particularly pleased that the government picked up on the recommendations that will be good for Northern Ontario as a whole."

The President of Sault College, Tim Meyer said he is pleased the provincial government has started to re-invest in colleges.

And called the Rae Report, commissioned by our government, (quote) "a catalyst for this government to have a profound understanding of post-secondary education system."

Cecile Somme, Director of the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board said, (quote) "This is good news for students. Its money that's directed at students for student achievement and that's great."

The CAO of the City of Sault Ste. Marie said, (quote) "any partnership with senior levels of government to improve crumbling infrastructure is a good thing for all municipalities." (And) "Infrastructure can't be renewed without our provincial partners because we don't have the money for it."

Mr. Speaker here is what our mayor said, "This is generally a good news budget, and this certainly sounds like good news for issues critical to the success of Northern Ontario."

Mr. Speaker in less than two years we have made the investments Ontarians have said they wanted and put our province on a more solid financial footing.

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