Fedeli says Premier is playing games with ONTC

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

********************

The Wynne Liberals continue to treat Ontario Northland as their personal political playtoy, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.


Wynne refused today to directly answer Fedeli’s demand to announce the end to her government’s fire sale of the ONTC during Question Period in the Ontario Legislature.


This despite Fedeli’s recent revelation of a definitive Ministry of Finance document that states the Liberals’ ONTC fire sale would cost Ontario taxpayers $790 million, not save $265 million as previously claimed. The prepared text of Fedeli’s question is as follows:


Speaker, my question is for the Premier.


Over a year ago, the government announced the fire sale of Ontario Northland. Liberal documents show this decision was made despite “Confidential Advice to Cabinet” recommending they wait for “further due diligence and analysis of fiscal and policy implications.” Well, new documents show exactly what those implications are.


Instead of saving the government $265 million, which is in last year’s budget, the sale will actually COST the government $790 million. Premier, you already know you’re not going through with this sale. That will create your next billion-dollar scandal.


Will you please, stand up now, before we break for the summer, and tell the people of Northern Ontario that the sale is off – and let them get on with their lives?


(Supplementary)
Premier, when this fire sale was announced, your own Finance Department said “Wait – let’s figure this out. We don’t really know what it will cost”. But the announcement was made – and the trouble started.


One of the largest companies in the North deferred their $10 million expansion, waiting to determine if there’s still a train. Unemployment in North Bay rose to 11.6% last month. This uncertainty in the marketplace is killing business. It’s tearing families apart.


I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. You were told it would save $265 million. You had no idea it would actually cost $790 million. But you learned of this billion-dollar gap when you became Premier.


So be the Premier; bring relief to these families right now; tell them the sale is off the table.


Video of Fedeli’s question can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/JcxfsBS8mSc


********************