McGuinty harming Sault jobs, says PC critic

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY

************************* Sault Ste. Marie economy weakened by McGuinty Liberals

PC finance critic calls on premier to reduce tax burden for Northern Ontario businesses, working families

SAULT STE. MARIE - (January 22) - Tim Hudak, Progressive Conservative finance critic and MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, called on the McGuinty Liberals today to take immediate and decisive action to improve Ontario's ailing economy, following presentations from several organizations and other interested parties at Ontario's 2008 pre-budget consultations in Sault Ste. Marie.

Many presenters expressed significant and growing concerns to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's standing committee on finance and economic affairs about the impact government policies are having on Northern Ontario's economy.

Since the beginning of 2005, Ontario has lost more than 174,400 well-paying manufacturing jobs and is among the slowest growing provinces with growth well below the national average.

Scotiabank's recent revised growth forecasts rank Ontario dead last for 2008.

Recent Sault Ste. Marie job losses include:

- Tenaris Algoma Tubes - Manufacturing (69 layoffs effective February 2007).

- Cooper-Standard Automotive (closure, 63 jobs lost effective September 2006).

- Boniferro Mill Works - hardwood mill operator (41 Layoffs, effective April 2007).

"It is clear the McGuinty Liberals' tax-and-spend policies are causing real and lasting harm to Northern Ontario's economy," Hudak said.

"The presentations we heard today from representatives in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding communities echo what John Tory and the Ontario PCs' have been saying for some time," Hudak said, "The premier must take immediate action to reduce the tax and regulatory burden for businesses and give working families a break."

An excerpt from today's presentations:

"Recently, the provincial government imposed a tax on the diamond developments in regards to the mine starting up currently in the Attawapiskat area," said Robert Starr, the director of finance for Pic River First Nation. "This tax grab is opportunistic and will only slow down the search for precious metal and stone opportunities in the North."

"Businesses in Sault Ste. Marie and nearby communities are closing their doors," added Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant and PC critic for environment, "families are struggling to make ends meet and many young people are leaving their hometowns to pursue out-of-province opportunities."

"If Ontario is to regain its status as Canada's economic leader," Barrett said, "the premier and his finance minister must start taking these issues more seriously."

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