Liberals continue on defensive at Q.P.

In provincial politics, concern over the job market and the middle class had opposition parties hitting Premier Wynne from both sides Monday.

With the spring session just a week old, it appears that both opposition parties are looking to hit the Liberals on job creation, perhaps in anticipation of a spring election.

But, the day began with newly elected Niagara MPP Wayne Gates being sworn in. Gates won the Niagara Falls by-election earlier this month, making it the first time in 19 years that the riding was held by the NDP. Both Gates and NDP Leader Andrea Howath wasted no time in asking what Premier Wynne would do to help working families in Niagara.

Gates: Does the Premier think that her jobs plan is working for the people of Niagara?

Andrea Horwath: They see Ontario’s unemployment is above the national average and Niagara’s unemployment is the highest in the entire province. Is the Premier ready to admit that the status-quo simply isn’t good enough?

Premier Wynne: It would be interesting to know Mr. Speaker, what the leader of the third party would put into a platform today. Because we haven’t seen support on minimum wage increases Mr. Speaker, we haven’t seen support on retirement security Mr. Speaker, we haven’t seen support for the Fort Erie plan, we haven’t seen support for the wine and grape strategy that we put in place Mr. Speaker, we haven’t seen support for increase investment in transit Mr Speaker. So, I am very, very, very impatient Mr. Speaker, which is why we have been moving on every one of those fronts and we will continue. We will not rest on the status-quo Mr. Speaker.

Also Monday, PC Leader Tim Hudak criticized discussions that the province and federal government are having with Chrysler for it’s Ontario plants. Hudak said it is time to ‘get out of the handout business’. “Instead of giving corporate handouts to the well connected, why no lower taxes for all businesses and every sector to succeed that should create jobs and create long term middle class jobs in the province.”

Wynne countered.  I do not believe he has thought through this policy Mr. Speaker. Because to abandon the auto sector in Ontario would lose hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The proposed deal would be worth 700 million dollars for Chrysler’s plants in Brampton and Mississauga. The Premier needs support of either the PC’s or NDP if they are to pass the upcomming budget and avoid an election.