Lakeshore Advance, 2013-05-08, Page 9Wednesday, May, 8, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 9
Thompson disappointed in provincial budget
1 luron-Bruce
MPP has "lost all
trust" i11 Liberal
government
Paul Cluff
QMI Agency
Lisa 'Thompson was keeping
an eye on the ticker at the bot-
tom of a news program showing
a real-time increase in Ontario's
debt.
Over the course of one hour,
through interest, the province's
debt load increased by more
than $1 million, the Huron -
Bruce MIT noticed.
The Liberals plait to drive up
debt by slue than $.IU billion
0 'I.'r till' Ill'Xl two years, pushing
it to $2111 billion, has left'IhOtup
son bewildered at the state of
affairs the provincial govern
111('11, she told the Signal Star.
"1 just think it's incredible how
far the Liberal government will
go to retain power;" 'Thompson
said in reaction to the May 2 pro-
vincial budget.
Finance Minister Charles Sou-
sa's budget will see government
spending rise by $3.7 billion to
$127.6 billion. The province's
deficit will balloon to $11.7
billion, though the l literals have
promised to balance the hooks
by 2017/18.
"There are no signs in this
budget that the liberals are
addressing the debt Toad. 1
haven't seen a ft1111111a.
TWO of three ministries are
increasing their spending. 110111
we pay it down and take a seri
otos look at it, it will continue to
spiral out of control.'
lhonnpson praised the NDI''s
grilling of the Liberals' decision
to cancel gas plants in Oakville
and Mississauga, a decision that
cost taxpayers $585 million.
However, the measures
Ratepayers deserve better: Thompson
New figures for
gas plant
cancellations
Paul Cluff
QMI Agency
Ontarians now know the new
cost of not building gas plants in
Oakville and Mississauga and
I luron Bruce MPP Lisa Thomp-
son is not impressed.
A government committee that
drilled the Ontario Power
Authority (EO and the liberal
government found out the bill is
$585 million.
'lhat's $355 million more than
earlier projections for both
plants.
"Its just devastating because
Ontario ratepayers deserve so
much better from the govern-
ment,Thompson tolls the Signal
Star, after the Apr. 30 committee
hearing wrapped up. "For them
to stonewall and skate around
the truth it just not right and they
need to be held accountable."
Colin Anderson, OPA CEO,
said it was a complex matter and
finding the true cost was difficult.
Premier Kathleen Wynne said
she regretted the situation and
offered to take responsibility to
ensure it doesn't happen again.
The premier said she was una-
ware of the cost when the plants
were cancelled.
Thompson said she knew the
estimates were low because her
executive assistant in 'Toronto
has helped review government -
released documents on the gas
plants.
More information will con-
tinue to conte forward, 'Thomp-
son said.
Wynne said she was given a
wide range of figures related to
the cancellation of the project
and was waiting for the auditor's
report.
'Thompson said it was interest
ing that Wynne stood up in the
legislature days before the com-
mittee hearing and told NI PIN
that she tells the truth.
"I recall when she calve
through our riding on her leader-
ship bus and said that munici-
palities need to have their auton-
omy hack when it comes to
placing wind turbines. She says
different things in the ridings and
in 'Toronto"
Thompson said residents in
luron-Bruce ask her "over and
over again when the change in
government is coshing."
The Nl)P could help force an
election by not supporting the
May 2 budget, but instead their
budget requests were met and
they have, thus far, propped up
the Liberals, the NIP!' said. "They
shouldn't prop up it government
that has ruled through scandal
after scandal:'
Dunes duplicate on a role
MONDAY
First Ed Maguire - Anne Wilton
Second: Vicki I lorley - Mike
Alderson
Third:John Waltho - Marilyn
Wanitho
Fourth: Ferre Mason Sally
Turnbull
Fifth —tie: Joy Croke Susie
1'runlper,
Pat lay - Yvonne McGregor
WEDNESDAY.
N -S
First: Ferns Bason David
Watson
Second: Dr. 1ii11 Greenwood
Jean Dorey
Third: Susie 'I'rutnper Dorothy
Fourth: I. I). Martell - mal Maguire
First 1)r. Bruce !lough - Kate
Burdett- (lough
Second: Vicki 1 lot ley Joy Croke
Third:11mi l'evler Marilyn
'10phanl
Fourth: Nori Price loan Graham
N -S
First: Dr. Bill ( •rsenwttd Set
Johnston
Second: Ann Smith Anne
( )donned
Third: I. 1). Martell Dorothy
Vandahl
Fourth: Louise Vanienherk
Dorothy Linton
Fifth: Gladys Shaw Sall'
Turnbull
First 'Don Pevler John Nlinielly
Second: Pat Lewington Brenda
Blair
Third: Marilyn Topham Robert
Mcfarlane
Fourth: Vicki I folksy Mink Pettit
Fifth: Maxine l:vsland Susie
'humpy,
GAMES ARE:
Monday 7:00 pm, Wednesday
1:00 pm 8 Friday 1:00 pm at the
Port Franks Community Centre.
For information or partners:
phone 238-1239 or 243-3733
introduced by the Liberals within the
budget to appease the NI)I' lower
insurance rates, jobs for youth and
stoney for litmus care • anti avoid an
election left her frustrated.
"It's rather ironic that the NI)P are
displaying dissatisfaction for the gas
plaint fiasco and 1111'11 Iatt'1' they are say-
ing, 'hey, we need to look at what the
Liberals are doing• 'the NI)P were jus-
tified for their line of questioning on
gas plants and there needs to be
accountability, she said. "But if they
turn around and prop up the govern-
nlent, what does that say about your
party.„
Few details about how insurance
rates would be lowered were provided,
Thompson said. The sante goes for
other initiatives in the budget.
"The devil is in the details. it's the
devil 1 worry about."
N1)1' leader Andrea I iorwath said her
party refuses to embrace the budget
and needs to consult with Ontarians to
see if it sleets their needs. Ilorwath
plants town hall meetings and a 1-800
number will bt' set up before deciding
whether to support the budget or vote it
down and force an election.
PC Leader Tim Hudak has called for
an election. "The Liberal government
chose to continue down a path that will
only dig the hole deeper for Ontarians,"
he said.
Included in the budget is a one per
cent increase in welfare and disability
rates effective this fall. Recipients will
he allowed to earn $20(1 tvithout a claw -
back in benefits. Welfare recipients can
now own a car worth $ 10,0110, which
wasn't an option before the budget. 'the
Liberals have promised money for hos
pitals and funding for school
infrastructure.
Thompson said the budget didn't
address issues important to her
constituents.
"'There is no mention of the horse
racing industry, no mention of any
movement towards reevaluating how
green energy will impact rural
Ontario:'
Some $100 million for bridges and
roads is it far cry from the gas taxes gen-
erated locally towards provincial coffers
that should be reinvested in those pro-
grams, she said. "Municipalities will
have to go with cap in hand and apply. I
hear from municipalities that they want
stable funding to build it viable case."
For now, municipalities are simply
"entering a lottery" and hoping they get
funding for those projects, 'Thompson
said.
"'They are spending and spending
when the reality is people in I luron and
Bruce are finding it tough to make ends
lueet. Wl' need a plan that sleets the
need for jobs and takes the debt and
deficit seriously."
Because of what 'Ihonlpson described
as it "say one thing, do another"
approach, the MPP has "lost all trust"
in the Liberal government.
With files from QMI Agency
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