Session: 38:2
Date: 29-May-2007

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Over 137,000 manufacturing job losses have happened under your watch. Some of those losses in Peterborough include the closure of MasterBrand Cabinets, National Grocers service and Transcontinental Best Book printing. The Premier has referred to these job losses as "hiccups" and "contractions," and another of your colleagues had the gall to refer to small communities affected by hard-hitting job losses as "crying babies."

Minister, when will you show respect for this Legislature and the members? When can communities like Peterborough expect to see the comprehensive job plan that members from all parties supported in this Legislature over 16 months ago?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade, minister responsible for women's issues): I appreciate the interest that this particular member is showing in those manufacturing losses. We understand the challenges that this sector is facing. In fact, this member knows-who has called my office to see all that we have done in interacting with companies the moment we understand that there may be an issue. This member also knows full well that we are bringing a full-court press: If there is an opportunity to work with the company, we introduce them to our programming; we ask them if there is anything that we can do to help their workforce; if there is a shutdown, we introduce them immediately to our Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, which, on a regular basis, is on the site in that town literally the very next day. In many instances, and this member will know full well, we have gone wherever that corporate headquarters has been to sit down and talk about what opportunities we have for our Ontario workers.

This member also needs to recognize that when it comes to supporting budgets-

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Ms. Scott: Across Ontario we still see thousands of manufacturing jobs lost monthly. But don't take it from me. How about the Peterborough Examiner? Titles like, "Jobs are Melting Away" and "Area Communities Face Uncertain Future." The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says, "The McGuinty Liberals have greatly increased the regulation and red tape faced by small businesses."

When referring to the exorbitant job losses in small communities, an article in the Peterborough Examiner states, "Stick a pin in a map of Ontario and you'll find a similar story just about everywhere."

Minister, you've broken countless promises. You've acted contrary to your own commitment by not honouring the resolution supported by members from all parties. My question to the minister is: Do you have any intention of honouring the job loss strategy plan? Do you still feel that over 137,000 job losses is a contraction? Do you still feel that our small communities that are suffering these job manufacturing losses are nothing more than crying babies? Do you still feel that way?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I need to understand how it is, based on this question, that this same member voted against the education property tax decrease by 40% in the very last budget. Is it this same member who voted against the last budget that we tabled for a writeoff on capital investments in two years? Is it this same member who voted against the automotive investment strategy, and in her very own riding there are companies that are part of the supply chain of our assemblers? Is it this same member who voted against the advanced automotive manufacturing strategy? Please tell me that you are not the same person who has voted against every single initiative. And you have the gall to pretend to care-

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.