The Meaford Independent

QUEEN’S PARK –- Ontario’s budget unveiled yesterday at Queen’s Park contained not a single reference to programs urgent to rural Ontario, bringing MPP Bill Murdoch to conclude that the cards continue to be stacked against places like Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound under McGuinty Liberals.

“This budget did not once reveal plans for agriculture. It was silent on issues such as risk management,” he said. “What the budget did expose was this voodoo world of Liberal accounting in Ontario where several zeros magically disappear off the $25 billion deficit overnight.”

In one paragraph, McGuinty referred to this practice as “managing responsibly.” Quipped Murdoch: “It makes you wonder what would have happened to Ontario if it had been managed irresponsibly.”

To-date, the Ontario Liberals’ dismal record includes: a half million jobs lost, two highest-ever tax increases, record-high welfare rolls, $135 billion in debt that will double over the next two years, highest-ever deficit, higher and still-rising hydro and gas costs.

“This sums up the Liberals’ past six-year plan, which will always be remembered for over-regulating, taxing and spending Ontario into a have-not province,” he said. “What it won’t be remembered for is helping out the average working folk, like people in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.”

Murdoch said instead of their crystal-ball and voodoo economics forecast, the government should stand up for the rural taxpayers by adopting its own Risk Management program.

Furthermore, it should adopt the 10 simple amendments proposed by the Ontario PC caucus.

“For example, our 10for2010 plan would cancel the $25 million severance payout to the HST collectors who are not losing their jobs,” Murdoch said, citing one example.