Provincial Government dithering while jobs are being lost, MPP Arnott says

Expressing concern about the approximately 550 people who are losing their jobs at Imperial Tobacco in Guelph next year, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott questioned the Premier in the Ontario Legislature on October 25th.

The high-paying manufacturing jobs are moving to Monterray, Mexico.

The Premier side-stepped the question, referring it to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

“Based on the response I received, the Government seems to be indifferent to the plight of these workers. They appear to have no plan to make up for lost jobs or support the creation of new jobs. The McGuinty Government has been dithering while Ontario’s manufacturing jobs are in steep decline,” Mr. Arnott said afterwards.

Back in May, Mr. Arnott tabled a Private Member’s Resolution in the Legislature aimed at supporting jobs in Ontario.

His resolution states: That in the opinion of this House, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs should immediately begin an investigation into Ontario's industrial and economic competitiveness, to develop an action plan to maintain and expand our domestic and international markets in the coming years.

So far, Mr. Arnott’s resolution has received written support from Canada’s Chemical Producers, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Employers’ Advocacy Council in Kitchener, and the Ontario Real Estate Association.

In August, Mr. Arnott cited a Statistics Canada report showing a 12-month trend of lost manufacturing jobs in Ontario. And this month, Statistics Canada also reported that Ontario’s manufacturing sector now employs 42,000 fewer people than last year.

“The Government must surely have enough evidence by now to show that a job creation strategy is needed. That is why I plan to re-introduce my resolution during this Second Session to give MPPs an opportunity to support an action plan for jobs,” Mr. Arnott concluded.