Smith should speak out against cuts, Tory says

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Pary leader is calling on Nipissing MPP Monique Smith to speak out against funding cuts to North Bay.

John Tory says Smith should be urging her government not to cut $3.1 million from the city.

Further information is included in the following news release issued by Tory:

(Queen’s Park) – Opposition Leader John Tory today called on local Liberal MPP Monique Smith to speak up and urge the McGuinty Liberals not to cut $3.1 million in funding from North Bay.

“This is a critical issue and the local MPP should be speaking out against these cuts,” said Tory.

“North Bay has not been fooled by attempts by the McGuinty Liberals to disguise the funding cuts with number games. This new funding scheme has a long-term detrimental effect on municipalities.”



The McGuinty Liberals new Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) cuts $47 million from municipal funding across the province, despite promises by Dalton McGuinty to invest in municipalities. Officials from some of the hardest hit regions have been speaking out about the funding formula recently.

Peter Chirico, North Bay council’s budget chief, said he has “grave concerns” and “it does not look good whatsoever by 2008.”

“I would really hope that Monique Smith would stand up and support our fight for better municipal funding from the McGuinty Liberals,” said Tory.

“This is an issue too important just to toe the party line.”