Orazietti tells the dippers what to do

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

****************************** Orazietti urges NDP members to support northern families and businesses by voting for provincial budget

McGuinty government makes key investments in Northern Ontario

QUEEN'S PARK - As part of the provincial government’s Open Ontario plan, the 2010 budget provides $1.2 billion in new funding that will create jobs and economic growth in Northern Ontario.

The provincial government recognizes the unique circumstances that northerner’s face and is investing in infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and providing relief on energy prices to families in the North, David Orazietti MPP, announced today. 

“I have received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from a wide-range of constituents who support the province’s plan to reduce energy costs, support industry, create jobs in the North and help families by continuing to make record investments in education and health care,” said Orazietti.

The provincial government’s five-year Open Ontario plan proposes the following initiatives to enhance job creation and economic growth in the North:

- A Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program worth $150 million annually, for qualifying large industrial facilities to reduce their electricity prices by an average of 25 percent which will assist Essar Steel and St. Mary’s Paper.

- $15 million to upgrade the Huron Central Rail line from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury.

- A new, permanent Northern Ontario Energy Credit of up to $130 for single people and up to $200 for families (including single parents) annually. This credit worth $35 million will help low and middle income northern Ontario residents with their energy costs.

- $10 million to increase the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) from $80 million to $90 million to create new jobs and support economic development.

- The government is also making significant infrastructure investments of $1.2 billion to strengthen northern communities by improving highways, hospitals, water and wastewater systems, and other infrastructure, supporting 10,000 jobs in 2010-11.

- $45 million over the next three years to support a new project-based skills training program to help Aboriginal Peoples and Northern Ontarians participate in and benefit from emerging economic development opportunities.

“Criticism of these initiatives by my provincial NDP colleagues is not helpful to anyone in the North and I hope that all northern Ontario provincial representatives will vote in favour of this budget which is clearly going to improve the competitiveness of many businesses and the lives of families in northern Ontario," said Orazietti.

Additionally, other key provincial investments include:

- $2.6 billion in additional funding for health care - an increase of 57 percent since 2003.

- $700 million in additional funding for education – an increase of 50 percent since 2003.

- $310 million to add 20,000 new spaces to colleges and universities this September.

- $63 million increase to Ontario childcare to maintain 8500 child care spaces and protect 100 jobs following the federal government’s decision to cut their funding.

- Creating 30,000 new second career training spaces bring the total in Ontario under the program to 60,000.

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