MPP DUNLOP: LOSS OF 150 MANUFACTURING JOBS PER DAY TO BE TOP PRIORITY OF OFFICIAL OPPOSITION

As we enter the First Session of the 39th Parliament of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the loss of key manufacturing jobs will be a top priority of the Official Opposition. 

To begin with, it is important to note that since January 1, 2005, under the McGuinty Government, an average of 150 manufacturing jobs per day have left Ontario.  This translates into approximately 160,000 jobs.  Those jobs are contained in plants of all sizes, from companies with 3 or 4 employees to high-tech assembly lines in large auto-manufacturing plants.  Jobs are being lost as many companies simply go bankrupt or close down while others move to other jurisdictions that offer less red-tape and attractive incentive programs.

What was appalling was that during the election campaign, Dalton McGuinty announced that he would add another statutory holiday in February called Family Day.  He did this simply to attract votes but with absolutely no consultation with those people who will pay for the holiday, the business and industrial community.  His first political move after the election was to actually proclaim that Family Day would proceed, again without any regard or respect for those companies that are finding it difficult to exist in the anti-business climate that we have in Ontario.

Many business leaders have approached me regarding Family Day and it is clear that it will cost many businesses tens of thousands of dollars to compensate their employees for Family Day.  It will cost one North Simcoe auto parts manufacturer well over $100,000.00 for the holiday.

Provincially, the negative impact to the Ontario economy is approximately 2.5 billion dollars to have a statutory holiday in February.  This will translate into a further loss of jobs.

Of course, Dalton McGuinty will continue with his favourite pastime, blaming the Federal Government for his incompetence and bad decision making.  As jobs continue to leave Ontario, you can be sure McGuinty will blame either the Harper Government or Mike Harris.

It is now time to create jobs.  It is now time for the Ontario Government to show the business community that they are appreciated in Ontario.  It is now time for incentive programs to be established that will return Ontario to the engine that drives the Canadian economy.  This is a topic you will continue to hear about.

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