(Queen’s Park) – Garfield Dunlop, P.C. Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services, lashed out at the Liberals today for what he calls a “dirty move” to secretly relocate the young offenders housed at Project Turnaround near Midland.

The decision to sneak the young offenders away comes on the heels of an exchange in the Legislature during which Dunlop corrected Kwinter on several facts about Project Turnaround, including the name of the program. Kwinter referred to the program in the Legislature as “Operation Turnaround”.

Dunlop learned through the media this afternoon that a van arrived at Project Turnaround this morning and “carted away” the youth to other facilities, in spite of the fact that Minister Kwinter announced only two days ago that the facility is to close when the private sector operator’s contract expires on January 31, 2004.

“You’d think the Liberals would have the common courtesy to let people know before they shut the door in their face,” said Dunlop. “With this dirty move, the Liberals are sending a strong message: Dalton McGuinty is not a friend of community safety, nor is he a friend of business.”

Dunlop referred specifically to the Liberal broken promises of creating the largest tax increase in Ontario’s history and lifting the cap on hydro rates.

“Higher taxes and higher hydro rates, coupled with a heavy-handed approach to dealing with the private sector, will drive jobs out of the province,” warned Dunlop. “Under a McGuinty government, Ontario is not open for business.”

“Closing Project Turnaround – apart from the jobs that will be lost – will end up costing Ontario taxpayers more money to house young offenders, as Dalton McGuinty pays back his union leader buddies,” added Dunlop.

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