QUEEN’S PARK – Instead of using his latest Speech from the Throne to change course and finally provide a long-term plan for new leadership, spending restraint and job creation, Dalton McGuinty has chosen a “Same-old-same-old” Throne Speech that will ensure Ontario remains saddled with one of the worst jobs, tax and debt records in all of Canada.

The 2010 Speech from the Throne follows in a long line of broken-promise riddled Liberal Throne Speeches, election platforms and budgets that have contributed to Ontario’s economic decline. Dalton McGuinty has previously been caught breaking commitments to not raise taxes, maintain balance budgets, to hire nurses, close coal plants and create long-term-care beds.

Of equal concern to Ontario families is what is missing in the Speech from the Throne. Dalton McGuinty’s last Throne Speech failed to include any mention of the signature policy initiatives of the last two years, including the decision to waste hundreds of millions of dollars on Liberal-friendly consultants in the eHealth scandal, or the decision to impose a massive $3 billion HST tax grab on Ontario seniors, families and small businesses.

QUOTES:

“Dalton McGuinty might as well have stayed prorogued. Instead, the out-of-gas and out-of-touch McGuinty Liberals wasted our time to declare that they remain wedded to the same out-of-control job-killing taxes, spending and new debt that turned Ontario into a have-not province in the first place.

-- Niagara West - Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak

“Ontario can, should, and must lead again – but to do so, we must turn the page on the broken promises and failed policies of the past. Our Ontario PC Caucus will continue to stand up for the seniors, families and small businesses who are paying more but getting less under this government. And we will continue to advocate responsible, practical and affordable ideas to get our province growing again – so that Ontario can lead again.

-- Niagara West - Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak

QUICK FACTS:

On the economy they said:

Your government is working with business and labour to attract, retain, and create good, high-paying jobs for Ontario families and communities” (Speech from the Throne – November 29, 2007)

On the economy they did:

279,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs lost under Dalton McGuinty

140,000 jobs lost during 2009

Unemployment rate at 9.2%, with over 600,000 people unemployed

Standard of living fell behind Saskatchewan’s last year

Have-not province (November 2008)

On post-secondary education they said:

“To ensure it is more affordable, your government will deliver a new textbook and technology grant of $300 for university and college students to help them get started each year at school.” (Speech from the Throne – November 29, 2007)

On post-secondary education they did:

The Liberals cut this program by $100 million in 2009 and changed the criteria

Now only students receiving OSAP qualify for a $150 textbook and technology grant (instead of the $300 promised for all students)

On education they said:

“Your new government will work with schools to make real improvements in children’s reading, writing, and math skills.” (Speech from the Throne – November 29, 2007)

On education they did:

Despite $5 billion in extra funding, 33% of children in Grades 3 and 6 failed to reach the provincial standard in reading, writing, and math, last year

On the financial sector they said:

“Your new government will celebrate the hard-working entrepreneurs who create jobs and attract investment, and support their endeavours here at home and abroad.” (Speech from the Throne – November 29, 2007)

On the financial sector they did:

Venture capital financing in Ontario has plunged from $1.5 billion in 2000 to $236 million in 2007. In 2008, it was down to $88 million. As of the 3rd quarter of 2009, only $24 million was invested in Ontario venture-capital-backed companies – a multi-decade low for the province

The McGuinty Government’s Ontario Venture Capital Fund has proven an utter failure, with only 3 committed projects for 2009 and none of the monies deployed

On healthcare they said:

“And excellent health care, available to all, keeps our people healthy, and that makes our workforce more productive.” (Speech from the Throne – October 12, 2005)

On healthcare they did:

On November 27, 2009, Deb Matthews told the Legislature, “There has been a dramatic increase in out-of-country health care provided and covered through OHIP"

On Northern jobs they said:

“Your government will work with manufacturers to support new and advanced technologies, and with the forestry industry through initiatives like the forest sector prosperity fund” (Speech from the Throne – November 29, 2007)

On Northern jobs they did:

45,000 Northern jobs lost under McGuinty (StatsCan data) / 62 mills closed (Ontario Forest Industries Association)

On nurses they said:

The Liberals promised to hire 9,000 more nurses (Speech from the Throne, November 29, 2007)

On nurses they did:

They have since admitted they will not achieve this goal by 2011

On coal plants they said:

“Your government will replace coal-fired electricity generation with cleaner forms of energy, with the last coal-fired plant slated to close in early 2009.” (Speech from the Throne, October 12, 2005)

On coal plants they did:

This promise was made in 2005 with the original date of 2009. In 2007, they pushed the deadline to 2014. In 2009, they moved the deadline to late-2010

On long-term care beds they said:

Build 35,000 long-term care beds (Speech from the Throne, November 29, 2007)

On long-term care beds they did:

There has not been a single shovel put in the ground or ribbon cut

On the education formula they said:

The Liberals promised the funding formula would be reviewed by 2010 (Speech from the Throne, November 29, 2007)

On the education formula they did:

It is now 2010 and the funding formula has not been reviewed

On consultants they said:

“Ontarians want the government to spend their tax dollars wisely, so this government made a commitment to reduce what the Provincial Auditor has called an over reliance on highly paid consultants.” (Speech from the Throne, November 20, 2003)

On consultants they did:

In October 2009, the Auditor General released a special report entitled Ontario’s Electronic Health Records (EHR) Initiative that said by 2008 eHealth was engaging 300+ consultants with less than 30 full-time employees