We did not write this piece, nor did Burlington MPP Jane McKenna write it. The document is a canned letter that was made available to all the Progressive Conservative MPP’s. All they had to do was drop their names in.
The biggest impact the Provincial government is going to have is the notice that the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital is going to get done with ground breaking planned for next December.
QUEEN’S PARK March 28, 2012 Burlington MPP Jane McKenna emerged from the budget lock-up today to express her disbelief at the Liberal government’s 2012 Budget, a dismal plan that will do little to stem government spending, spur economic recovery, or create jobs for Ontarians.
“This is an empty gesture,” said Mrs. McKenna. “There’s no plan to make significant structural changes to the way government operates. There’s no plan to deliver the jobs we need. The budget increases spending over last year and – after outsourcing economic vision to Don Drummond – has now apparently outsourced the responsibility for delivering savings.”
The 2012 Budget revealed that the Finance Minister is hoping to find almost $13 billion in savings through restraint by public sector workers, who are apparently expected to balance the books for the government. The success of the budget depends on this sunny best-case scenario.
Burlington MPP Jane McKenna is not going to support the Liberal budget.
As well, the Finance Minister has identified $4.9 billion in savings from overlap and duplication. “That so-called savings is what most Ontarians would call waste,” said Mrs. McKenna. “To be more specific, it’s Liberal waste. The reality is that this government has waited nine years to commit to spending sensibly. And then they actually have the nerve to talk about ‘the respect we owe all Ontarians who are counting on us to eliminate the deficit.’ “This is a government that doesn’t understand how to budget, doesn’t know how to stop spending, and doesn’t have the stomach to lead real change. It doesn’t have the courage or the creativity to tackle the very real, very serious problems that we’re facing. But it’s still costing taxpayers $10 billion annually to service interest on the debt. We have a deficit now three times the size of all other provinces, combined. We’re barreling toward a $30 billion deficit and a credit downgrade. Ontarians are not just running out of patience. They’re also running out of time.”
This government has lost touch with reality, suggested Mrs. McKenna. ”The McGuinty Liberals make no connection between fiscal responsibility and business confidence, but you can bet Bay Street and the ratings agencies get it,” she said. “Capital is mobile. Investors can go anywhere. Why would they go somewhere with high levels of debt and high taxes? What we’re seeing is an almost total lack of a jobs plan except for yet another advisory body. It’s a big zero.”
Burlington MPP McKenna appears prepared to see the province plunged into an election over the budget. Does she have election signs left over from the last election - when was that? - less than six months ago.
“This is the time for tough and responsible fiscal management,” MPP McKenna added. “Today’s budget is a weak and disappointing response to Ontario’s jobs and spending crisis. But there’s absolutely no need for Ontario to be condemned to a $30 billion deficit and continued stagnant economic growth. That’s why I will continue to promote our positive Ontario PC plan to get our economic fundamentals back in shape, as we have been doing every day since the last election.”
Editors note: McKenna doesn’t have a word to say about the hospital news. The Progressive Conservatives are expected to vote against the budget in the Legislature then cross their fingers and hope that the New Democrats hold their noses and vote for it and thus avoid an election which the PC’s cannot afford – they still owe a reported $6 million from the last election.
