Manitoba Museum funding shows Government doesn’t get it

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2012

Manitoba Museum funding shows Government doesn’t get it
(Queen’s Park) – According to a Toronto Sun report, the Ontario Government has committed to
contributing $5 million towards the construction of a new Human Rights Museum in Manitoba.

PC Critic for Intergovernmental Affairs Ted Arnott says this shows that the Government just doesn’t
get it.

“Here we are with a $16 billion deficit and the McGuinty Government is handing out money to build a
museum in another province. Where are the Government’s priorities?” asked Mr. Arnott. “People
will wonder if they have lost their minds.”

According to the Fall Economic Update, the Government projects a $16 billion dollar deficit for the
current fiscal year. That means that the Ontario Government is borrowing $1.8 million every hour,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Government has commissioned Don Drummond to conduct a review of all Government
spending and identify areas where government can be cut back and savings can be found. The
Drummond Report, which is likely to be released next month, is expected to recommend deep cuts
to many government services and departments.

“If the Government has $5 million dollars to hand out – which it clearly doesn’t – why wouldn’t they
look at the needs of our Ontario museums?” asked Mr. Arnott.

Ultimately, argues Mr. Arnott, this decision raises major question marks about the Government’s
commitment to balancing the books.

“We have to question how serious the McGuinty Government is about getting the deficit under
control. Obviously, someone hasn’t gotten the memo,” he concluded.

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