Shurman deeply disappointed after McGuinty denies him trade mission spot
Written by -- Jewish Tribune Staff Reporter
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
THORNHILL ? Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, Progressive Conservative (PC) critic for economic development and trade, learned last week that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has denied his request to take part in Ontario?s trade mission to Israel scheduled for next month.
?As the MPP for the riding with the largest Jewish population in Ontario, I would have expected the premier to understand that many Thornhill constituents are very concerned about Israel and, further, have a special interest in strengthening the economic ties between Ontario and Israel,? Shurman said. ?I am deeply disappointed on behalf of my Thornhill constituents that Dalton McGuinty has denied them the opportunity to have their elected representative share those concerns and interests with the people of Israel.?
Shurman?s riding is in Vaughan, which is a twin city to Ramla, Israel. He told the Jewish Tribune that he had indicated an interest in joining the mission as soon as the announcement was made in February. Last week, upon learning that his request to join the mission was denied, he hesitated to send out an immediate press release; instead, he contacted the premier?s office to inform him that Mike Harris, when he was premier of Ontario and leader of the PC party, travelled to Israel in 1998 and Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter was included in the mission.
The premier did not reconsider, Shurman said.
The team travelling to Israel with Premier McGuinty and Sandra Pupatello, economic development and trade minister, will include Liberal MPPs Monte Kwinter, David Caplan, David Zimmer and Mike Colle.
?I cannot understand why Dalton McGuinty would play partisan politics with a matter that is of interest to the entire Jewish community in Ontario,? Shurman said. ?I think it?s disgraceful.?
?We hope that there will be no organizational partisanship demonstrated by the McGuinty government and that the leaders of the major Jewish organizations, primarily B?nai Brith Canada and a UJA Federation agency, will be included in the delegation,? commented B?nai Brith Canada CEO Frank Dimant.