(Queen’s Park) – Garfield Dunlop, P.C. Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services, while commenting on the McGuinty government’s decision to consider bringing back photo radar, today reminded Premier McGuinty about his promise to put 1,000 new police officers in Ontario communities.

“Dalton McGuinty promised 1,000 new police officers during the election,” said Dunlop. “Photo radar shouldn’t even be a topic of discussion until he makes good on this campaign promise first.”

Here’s what two of Premier McGuinty’s Cabinet colleagues, including the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, had to say about photo radar:

“… these are just cash machines. They’re a gold mine for the province.”

- Gerry Phillips, Chair of Management Board, The Toronto Sun, March 2, 1994

“All it’s really done has made the coffers of the treasury swell with amounts of money that are starting to verge on the obscene.”

- Monte Kwinter, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, The Toronto Sun, December 17, 1994

And here’s McGuinty’s photo radar flip-flop:

“I’m saying that it’s [photo radar] not a priority. It’s not in the plans. I have no intention of putting it forward… Maybe 10 years from now by all means.”

- Dalton McGuinty, CHOG-AM, May 20, 1999

“I’ve long been a supporter of photo radar… It’s a revenue generator – absolutely.”

- Dalton McGuinty, Cabinet scrum, January 14, 2004

“Photo radar is just another McGuinty money grab,” said Dunlop. “First we had Mad Cow, and now photo radar – a veritable ‘cash cow’ – rears its ugly head again.”

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)