Tory member criticizes `reverse Midas touch'
Published On Fri Feb 12 2010
Premier Dalton McGuinty will travel to Israel and the West Bank this spring to boost a billion-dollar trade relationship.
The premier will lead a mission to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Bethlehem from May 23 to 27. He will be joined by Economic Development Minister Sandra Pupatello, MPPs and business officials.
In 2008, trade between Ontario and Israel totalled $1.1 billion ? up by 86 per cent since 2004, McGuinty said Thursday.
He called Israeli advances in the last 15 to 20 years "a miracle of innovation and innovative capacity."
McGuinty said he couldn't think of another country doing more in the way of start-ups, patents and scientific research.
Ontario and Israel "have much in common," he said. "Israel's focus on life sciences and medical treatment as well as technology and advanced manufacturing match up well with our strengths."
As for the West Bank, McGuinty said he is "looking forward" to his visit there but had few details on his group's itinerary.
The delegation will have representatives from the life sciences sector, as well as aerospace, green technology and construction.
McGuinty is the first Ontario premier to visit Israel since Mike Harris in 1998. Progressive Conservative MPP Peter Shurman, who represents the large Jewish riding of Thornhill, said he applauds the mission, but he worries about who is leading it.
"Dalton McGuinty has the reverse Midas touch," Shurman said. "When you send McGuinty out, you get a Samsung deal - you give away the store and export the jobs."
Last month, Ontario signed a $7 billion wind and solar power development and manufacturing accord with Samsung and Korea Electric Power Corp.
The deal's been criticized because of an "economic development adder" that will effectively give the South Koreans a $437 million subsidy over the life of the agreement.
Israel registers more patents in any given year with the U.S. patent office than Americans do, Shurman said. "It is an astounding thing. If you are going to go on a trade mission, it is the place to go."