THUNDER BAY – Premier Kathleen Wynne now faces the opposition. “Our government is committed to cooperating with opposition parties to move Ontario forward. We will focus on balancing the budget and ensuring opportunities for every Ontarian without letting anyone slip through the cracks. When we work together, Ontario is a place of endless possibilities,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak stated, “Today was a moment of truth for Ontario. The Speech from the Throne presented an opportunity for this government to make the necessary and urgent decisions to put Ontario on the right track. Regrettably for Ontario, Premier Wynne appears to have chosen to entrench the McGuinty agenda that led Ontario to the biggest jobs and debt crisis of our lifetime”. 

Premier Kathleen Wynne Faces Opposition

“The only way to end our jobs and debt crisis, to take us off the wrong track, to change the direction of the province is to change the team that leads it,” stated Hudak. 

“Anyone who has ever been faced with a crisis or emergency will tell you that being cautious, being incremental will not save you”. 

“The only way forward is to move quickly, confidently and boldly in the direction you know is right.  The Ontario PC Party is the only party with a comprehensive plan to end overspending and grow our economy,” asserts Hudak.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath held out a little more of an olive branch to the Liberals. “Families are feeling squeezed by tough times,” stated Horwath. “They want government action that creates jobs, improves healthcare and makes life affordable while we balance the books. This Throne Speech has a lot of promising talk, but unless we see action in the coming Budget, we won’t be able to support it”.

Horwath said “The government’s Throne Speech was vague and lacked details or concrete plans to create jobs for youth, crack down on corporate tax loopholes, make auto insurance more affordable, and guarantee wait times for patients waiting for home care. Families need to see results in the upcoming Budget or the government will not be able to rely on New Democrat support”. 

Local MPPs offer Throne Speech Insight

Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay Superior North says Ontario is working toward a stronger province that will create good jobs and build strong communities across the province. “Working together, we’ll create jobs and grow the economy, while being fiscally responsible, efficient and fair.” said Gravelle “We will work with the opposition to make the minority parliament work to create a stronger, more prosperous Ontario for us all.”

“I am thrilled to be working closely with Premier Wynne in my new role as Minister of Northern Development and Mines and I am extremely motivated by her strong commitment to the North. Certainly I was pleased to hear the Throne Speech make specific reference to our Northern voices and the important acknowledgement that they will be heard. It is a pivotal and exciting time for Northern Ontario and with the support of Premier Wynne our government is ready to seize the tremendous opportunities that lay ahead,” added Gravelle.  

Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says there are three themes to the direction that the Liberals are headed. 

“First, a clear signal that we will work to accommodate the opposition parties. We will work hard to make that happen,” stated Mauro. “Second, it is clear that we are on track to balance the budget. Our approach is not a ‘slash and burn’ but a need to balance the books with a balanced approach”.

“Third, there is a solid focus on infrastructure,” Mauro noted. “It is obvious in Toronto there are still issues with gridlock. The Liberals will work with Toronto toward solving that issue”. 

Mauro asserts that will be good for Thunder Bay’s Bombardier manufacturing plant. “There are 1200 more good paying jobs at Bombardier today than there were four years ago”.

On the Northern Cabinet Committee, Mauro has been offered the chair of this committee. “Ultimately I will do it,” Mauro shared. “It is all going to happen, and I want to flesh it out and make sure it is a solid working group”.

Mauro asserts that what is needed in the North is far greater co-operation between levels of government. “Ontario needs help from the feds.” commented Mauro. “There is a lot happening, and overall this is less about mines, and more about infrastructure and education”.

Becoming a bigger part of the narrative is important according to Mauro.