Whiting talks Liberal plan for Northern Ontario

Dr. Catherine Whiting
News Release

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Ontario Liberals’ new election platform will mean real, measurable progress for Northern Ontario families, Dr. Catherine Whiting said today (Friday).

“What we’ve achieved together with Northern Ontarians in the past eight years is nothing short of amazing,” Dr. Whiting said. “Today, we’re building new hospitals, training more doctors, expanding broadband high-speed internet to remote communities, and providing our youngest with the best possible start through full-day kindergarten. We’re on track. But there is more to do.”
The Ontario Liberal platform for Northern Ontario, entitled, “Forward. Together. ” is a plan to help Northern Ontario families meet the challenges we face as we emerge from the global recession.
Some of the key elements of the plan for Northern Ontario include:

• Increasing the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to $110 million and increasing the number of jobs created to 4,000 a year;

• Completing a multi-modal transportation plan for road, air and marine links that move products and people throughout the North. The ONTC will be an integral part of that plan;

• Providing more family health care for underserviced areas;

• Streamlining administration of the Northern Health Travel Grant to improve response times and let Northerners apply online.

• Opening at least eight new mines in the next 10 years, providing opportunities for over 60 mining companies in Nipissing;

• Driving the development in the Ring of Fire to support the creation of jobs; and

• Making the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program permanent.

“These are uncertain times for the global economy. These are challenging times for our families. This is our plan to help. This is our way forward, together,” Dr. Whiting said.

The Hudak PCs’ record is disastrous. When Tim Hudak was Northern Development Minister in the Mike Harris government, he helped the PCs download $3 billion onto cities and towns, triggering property tax hikes and massive cuts to public services.
Today, the Hudak PCs have a $14 billion hole in their platform — that means deep cuts that will put our economy, education and health care at risk. The Horwath NDP would introduce a crushing $9 billion in job-killing taxes. Both would take Ontario off track at the worst time.

The full Northern platform is available at www.theontarioway.ca.

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