McGuinty addresses jobs, economy in speech to Canadian Club
Posted January 24, 2012 5:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty has said his government can erase Ontario’s $16-billion deficit in the next five years — but it will require cuts in spending and public sector salaries.
He made the luncheon speech to the Canadian Club, Tuesday, while calling on the private sector to help create jobs.
McGuinty added that when the axe falls on spending, government jobs, which account for $55-billion of the budget, will be targeted in a fair and respectful way.
“Because half of the province’s budget is spent on wages, it’s just not possible to reduce spending without addressing salary expenditures. We’re going to do that by respecting the collective bargaining process,” he said.
McGuinty is ruling out an employee wage freeze, but Conservative critic Peter Sherman said the opposition may have other plans.
“As he’s pointed out, this is a a minority government. That means he’s got to listen to the remainder of Ontarians represented by the other two parties,” explained Sherman.
A senior government source said the premier won’t delve into any specifics about the kind of cuts that may be looming on the horizon.
McGuinty urged businesses to do their part by investing in the province and creating jobs, now that the governing Liberals have helped lower their costs with tax reforms.
He is promising to protect healthcare and education, although reforms could be made to find cheaper ways to do things.
The opposition parties are also offering some ideas to cut costs, such as the Tories’ call for government services to be privatized where possible.
Opposition Leader Tim Hudak said the government should at least have unions compete for government contracts against private companies and other interested parties.
