Horwath’s platform offers hydro help & lower auto insurance rates

Ontario’s New Democrats plan to take the provincial portion of the HST off hydro bills and reduce auto insurance rates, among other things, if they win the provincial election.

NDP Leader Andrea Howarth announced her party’s campaign platform, entitled, A Plan that Makes Sense, at University of Toronto’s Hart House on Thursday morning.

She attacked the Liberals, saying they spent $1.1 billion on the now-cancelled gas plants for their own gain, and then lied about it and covered it up.

“Ontario is governed by a party that disrespects you and your tax dollars … I believe that you deserve a better government that that,” Horwath said.

Horwath also criticized Progressive Conservatives Leader Tim Hudak for his plan to cut public sector jobs.

“That firefighter on your street will get canned [and that] little boy who needs help in school won’t get it,” she said.

Horwath said her party would balance the budget by 2017-2018, which is the same time-frame the Liberals allotted.

“We are going to save more than we spend,” she said while referencing Tommy Douglas.

“One of his fundamental values was to balance the budget because he didn’t want to pay interest to the banks,” adding that he used the savings for services such as health.

Key components of the NDP platform:

• Save $600 million with a Minister of Savings and Accountability
• Cap CEO salaries in the public sector
• Raise the corporate tax rate from 11.5 to 12.5 per cent
• Cut the small business tax rate gradually to 3 per cent
• Appoint a Financial Accountability Officer
• Take provincial portion of HST off hydro bills
• 15 per cent reduction in auto insurance rates
• Freeze college and university tuition, saying to the students in the room, “you will be able to afford an education in Ontario”
• Remove provincial portion of interest off student loans
• Invest in transportation and roads
• Job Creation Tax Credit for businesses that create jobs
• Cut wait times in emergency rooms by half by bringing in nurse practitioners
• Create 24-hour family health clinics
• Ensure there is fund available to keep schools open after hours
• Dental benefits for children in low-income households

“This is a plan that makes sense for Ontario. This is a plan that will deliver on the priorities of Ontarians,” Horwath said.

When she first walked into the room, the crowd of people chanted, “Andrea, Andrea.” The room was packed for the announcement.

“Ontarians deserve a government that makes sense. You deserve a government that respects your tax dollars and invests those tax dollars in your priorities.”

“Are you ready for a government that respects you?,” Howarth asked the crowd.

“We respect you and we will deliver.”

Click here to read the NDP’s complete platform.

The Ontario election will be held on June 12.