Fall Economic Statement: another Liberal effort to distract

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2016

Fall Economic Statement: another Liberal effort to distract

(Queen’s Park) – The Wynne Government has virtually run out of ideas and all that’s left is spin,
says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

“Their Fall Economic Statement demonstrated once again that the Liberals have basically given
up and are just going through the motions,” Mr. Arnott said. “The Province is bereft of effective
leadership in Government at the moment.”

Mr. Arnott pointed out the direct contradiction between the Ontario Legislature’s Financial
Accountability Officer’s recent report and the Minister of Finance’s projections in the Fall
Economic Statement.

“Our independent Financial Accountability Officer said the Liberal deficits will continue for the
next five years, unless they cut spending or raise revenues,” Mr. Arnott stated. “This casts doubt
on the Finance Minister’s repeated claim that the budget will be balanced before the 2018
election.”

Mr. Arnott added that the provincial debt continues to grow at an alarming pace.

“Their own numbers show the net provincial debt is projected to grow to $318 billion by the end
of March next year,” he said. “The provincial debt was $139 billion when they took office in
2003. The interest costs continue to go up, and they’ve articulated no plan to begin paying down
the debt.”

Buried in the Background Papers document which accompanied the Finance Minister’s speech,
two local projects were mentioned, which Mr. Arnott has actively supported for years.

“I was glad to see that the Ministry highlighted the new Groves Hospital and the Highway 6
Morriston bypass project in the Background Papers,” Mr. Arnott observed. “This gives us
greater assurance that the projects are in fact moving ahead.”

However, the veteran MPP believes no one will be fooled by this latest effort by the Liberals to
distract voters from their scandals like the bribery charges in the Sudbury byelection, and failed
policies like skyrocketing hydro bills.

“People see through the Liberals’ spin, and their minds are made up that we need a change of
Government at Queen’s Park,” Mr. Arnott concluded. “That change can’t come too soon.”

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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org