THUNDER BAY — Today, in an address to the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Andrea Horwath addressed municipal leaders from across Northwestern Ontario. She says yesterday’s Liberal budget leaves northern families paying the price for the Kathleen Wynne’s decision to sell-off Hydro One.
“Northern Ontario is a vital part of the character and the economy of this province. And that fact is not lost on me, nor is it lost on New Democrats,” said Horwath. “Yesterday, Kathleen Wynne unveiled yet another budget – in a long series of budgets – that fails to address the important challenges of Northern Ontario. It’s more cuts to health and education. It’s making life more expensive for families. And there is nothing for the North.”
Horwath thanked northern leaders at NOMA for their work advocating for their communities, noting that New Democrats’ strong representation has meant Horwath and her team never lose sight of northern priorities.
“What we have is a budget that cuts health care, that cuts education. It is a budget that throws our hydro system into chaos and increases electricity rates on Northerners who are already trying to figure out how they are going to pay the bills. This Liberal budget once again has Northern families paying the price,” continued Horwath. “The budget does nothing to stop the closing mills, nothing to address the electricity needs of the mining industry, nothing to address the government’s failure to form meaningful partnerships with first nations, and it does nothing to address the failure of leadership on Ring of Fire development. In fact, this budget tells us that there will be no investment in the Ring of Fire until after the next election.”
Horwath will spend the remainder of the day meeting with healthcare leaders.
