(Queen?s Park) ? Less than 10 weeks from the last provincial election, the McGuinty Liberals have shown once again they have no real plan for the future of Ontario?s economy.
?The people of Thornhill are tired of Liberal excuses for the mishandling of this province?s finances and economy,? said Shurman.
?It makes no difference whether Greg Sorbara or Dwight Duncan is Minister of Finance, we get the same old Liberal approach: billions in unaccountable year-end spending; billions in uncollected revenues; and hundred million dollar write-downs on shady investment deals,? stated Shurman.
Shurman added that today?s Fall Economic Statement does nothing to compensate for the $2.2 billion tax hike the government inflicted on Ontario?s employers in 2003. Nor does it provide any relief for the $2.7 billion Liberal Health Tax that is now being paid by the hard working residents of Thornhill.
?Ontario?s GDP growth is expected to rank last among Canadian provinces either this year or next according to 4 of the 5 major banks. That dire statistic is inexcusable.?
?Program spending has increased by nearly 8% per year. That is approximately $24.6 billion since taking office, with another $3 billion announced today. All this spending is taking place without a plan, and the result is patchwork policymaking that is ineffective,? said Shurman, ?The people of Thornhill, and indeed all Ontario, deserve better from this government.?