Standing Up for Ontario

Lack of Support from Harper Conservatives Hurts Ontario’s Economy


Thursday, May 8, 2014


Premier Kathleen Wynne made it clear that she would stand up for Ontario’s interests, despite the lack of support and wilful neglect by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

Each and every year, Ontario raises $11 billion more in federal revenue than is invested back into the province by the Harper Conservatives. In fact, this year Ontario will receive $641 million less in major transfers from the federal government at a time we can least afford it.

The Harper government continues to hurt the interests of Ontario families, business and industry by refusing to support a number of key areas, including:

  • Transit and infrastructure – While Ontario plans to invest over $130 billion in the province over the next 10 years, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have committed only $70 billion – nationally.  
  • Ring of Fire development – While the Harper Conservatives continue to invest in regional economic development opportunities elsewhere in Canada – including oil sands in Alberta – they refuse to invest in the development of the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario that would create jobs and make Ontario one of the major world producers of chromite.
  • Pension Crisis – the Harper Conservatives have demonstrated a wilful indifference to the emerging pension crisis by refusing to enhance the Canadian Pension Plan.

In response to Stephen Harper’s lack of action, Premier Kathleen Wynne has demonstrated leadership by investing in transit and infrastructure, committing funding for the Ring of Fire development and proposing an Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) that would be cost-effective, responsible and help Ontario workers build a more secure retirement future after a lifetime of work and contribution to the economy. 

The Hudak PCs have taken Stephen Harper’s direction on all of these critical issues and are refusing to stand up for working, middle-class Ontarians.  Ontario voters will have a clear choice between Premier Kathleen Wynne’s realistic and practical plan for jobs and growth, and the Hudak PCs who would cut investments, jobs and growth.

 

Quote 

“Ontario needs a leader who is willing to stand up to the Harper Conservatives for their wilful indifference to Ontario’s interests. We need real investments in transit and infrastructure. We need a willing partner to develop the Ring of Fire. And people need a pension plan that provides them real income security in retirement.  The silence from the Hudak PCs on these issues – and many others – makes it clear that Tim Hudak is not prepared to stand up for our interests.” 

—   Premier Kathleen Wynne

 

Quick Facts 

  • Canada is the only G7 country without a federal policy of long-term, predictable investment dedicated to transit.
  • Ontario’s investment in infrastructure is equal to almost $10,000 per capita, while the Harper Conservative investment is equal to only $2,000 per capita.
  • According to the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, when Stephen Harper retires, his pension will be at least $191,094 – 28 times higher than the average Ontarian’s CPP benefit
  • Sixty-five per cent of Ontarians don’t have a workplace pension and experts agree the maximum benefit of $12,000 per year through CPP just isn’t enough for retirement.  In Ontario, the average benefit is $6,800.
  • In 2012, there was $280-billion in unused RRSP contribution room in Ontario.

 

 

For further information -
Ontario Liberal Party
416-230-2084