Election: Seven questions for Howard Hampton

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI LIBERAL CANDIDATE SAULT STE. MARIE

************************* Howard Hampton and the NDP protesting all the way to the bank

The lucky seven questions voters and media should be asking Howard Hampton and the NDP

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - (October 9) - Premier McGuinty challenged NDP leader Howard Hampton on the MPP pay raise: "There is only one way for anybody to oppose this bill on principle, it's irrevocable. It is unequivocal and permanent and that is to opt out."

However not one single member of the Ontario Provincial NDP caucus opted out of the MPP pay raise.

Do the NDP and Howard Hampton not find it hypocritical that they would opt in to take the MPP pay raise yet at the same time campaign against it?

- First elected in 1987, Mr. Hampton received $500,000 in a gold plated pension buy-out in 1996. Why didn't Mr. Hampton refuse to take the money?

- How does Mr. Hampton's gold plated pension buy-out of $500,000 match up against a steel worker or paper worker after nine years on the job? - The NDP are running a campaign against the pay raise. Why did all NDP MPPs opt to take the pay raise?

- Mr. Hampton claims that he cares about health care in the North. Why did he and his NDP colleagues cut the number of medical school spaces by 13% when in government? - Mr. Hampton claims that he cares about Northern jobs. Why did he and his NDP colleagues cut $60 million out of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund when in government?

- Mr. Hampton claims that he cares about the rights of unionized workers. Why did he and his NDP colleagues rip-up the collective agreements of 900,000 civil servants - including nurses, teachers and doctors - when in government?

- Mr. Hampton claims that he supports universal public health care. Why did he and his NDP colleagues vote against Bill 8 - Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, which bans two-tier health care?

*************************