(Orillia): Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop is disappointed that Dalton McGuinty has dumped the only Cabinet Minister in place for central Ontario.

Dunlop was reacting to word that Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll has been shuffled out of Premier Dalton McGuinty’s cabinet.

"The Premier's decision to release Aileen Carroll as Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Seniors, is a real blow to our region,” said Dunlop. “There are now no cabinet ministers between Toronto and Sudbury.”

“Aileen Carroll is to be commended for her hard work and continuing efforts to build relationships with neighbouring communities since taking on the Cabinet post in 2007,” Dunlop added. 

The people of Ontario will not be fooled by this cabinet shuffle.   Slapping a fresh coat of paint on Canada’s worst government will not make any of Ontario’s problems go away. McGuinty cannot hide the fact that this is the same core team that delivered record job losses, a $25 billion deficit, a billion dollar eHealth scandal and a $3 billion HST tax grab.

“It looks like McGuinty has completely written off central Ontario in advance of next year’s Provincial election,” said Dunlop. “Something which first became apparent with the lack of Liberal Government funding for Orillia’s new Lakehead University. Ultimately, of course, the problems facing Ontario will not be fixed until the office of the Premier itself gets shuffled.  For that we will have to wait until 2011.”

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CONTACT:

Garfield Dunlop
Simcoe North MPP
Cell: 705-327-4500