Liberal spending still out of control, says MPP Arnott

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2010

Liberal spending still out of control, says MPP Arnott
(Queen’s Park) – Today’s budget shows that Premier Dalton McGuinty still has a major spending
problem, leading to a staggering provincial debt, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

“Every year he adds to the debt, he’s digging the hole deeper and making it harder for us to get out,”
he said.

News that the deficit stands at $21.3 billion, lower than the anticipated number of nearly $25 billion,
shows that the government is playing games with numbers, said Mr. Arnott. But the Liberals’ deficit
remains the largest deficit in Ontario history.

“They’re still borrowing $2 million an hour more than they’re taking in, every hour of every day. They
talk about restraining spending, but overall government spending continues to go up—even as
taxpayers’ ability to pay has gone down,” explained Mr. Arnott.

By their own projections, the McGuinty Liberals are on track to double the provincial debt by 2013.

“Their strategy is simple,” he said. “They’re putting off all the tough decisions until after the next
election.” That election is scheduled for October 2011.

Mr. Arnott also blasted the government for failing to include a real jobs plan that will put people back
to work.

“Constituents are coming to me who have, for months, been unable to find work,” he said. “Our
communities desperately need good, well-paying jobs,” said Mr. Arnott. “We need sustainable,
private-sector job growth, and this budget has no real plan to achieve it.”

On March 11, Mr. Arnott was the first member of the Legislature to object to lucrative severance
payments going to tax collectors who won’t lose their jobs. Under the McGuinty government’s HST
plan, provincial Ministry of Revenue staff will receive payments of up to $45,000—simply for
transferring from the provincial to the federal bureaucracy.

“Severance payments should not be extended to people who won’t miss a day of work,” said Mr.
Arnott. “Our caucus will continue to push the government to do the right thing and cancel these
payments.”

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