Liberal Northern Plan all spin, no substance

The following response to the Northern Ontario Platform announced by Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberal Party was released Thursday by Sault Ste. Marie MPP Tony Martin (shown in a SooToday.com file photograph):

***************************************************************** Liberal Northern Plan all spin, no substance

SAULT STE. MARIE - Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberals are "all spin, no substance" when it comes to standing up for the North, New Democrat MPP Tony Martin says.

"Dalton McGuinty's plan for the North is much ado about nothing," the Sault Ste. Marie MPP and New Democrat Economic Development and Trade and Tourism Critic says.

"It's a list of empty election promises that won't do a thing to put the North back on the province's political compass."

The Liberals fail to address the North's two most pressing economic issues: Sky-high deregulated hydro prices (the result of Conservative-Liberal support for privatization and deregulation) and lost lumber jobs (the result of weak-kneed Conservative-Liberal responses to companies that ship Northern wood and jobs to faraway megamills).

The Liberal plan says little of substance about Northern First Nations or pressing issues like shipping southern garbage and toxic waste North and the privatization of our health care system and highway maintenance.

"Dalton McGuinty simply doesn't know the North," Martin says.

"His so-called plan is nothing more than a pre-election shopping list that's all spin, no substance."

Only Howard Hampton and the NDP have a practical plan to build strong communities and create jobs in the North.

Publicpower – Practical Solutions For Northern Ontario, is a New Democratic new deal for the North that will rebuild the region's economy, revitalize its communities and offers its young people real hope and opportunity (see attached backgrounder.

A full copy of the NDP plan is available at www.publicpower.ca.

"During this election, Northerners have a choice," Martin says.

"Will you maintain the Conservative-Liberal all-points-south status quo? Or will you put the North back on the political compass with the NDP's new deal?"

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