en http://www.petershurman.com RSS Feed for Peter Shurman Copyright: (C) Peter Shurman, see http://www.petershurman.com for terms and conditions of reuse 60 Peter Shurman Ximmix Web Portal http://www.auroraonline.com 94852740 Thu, 17 May 2012 12:51:12 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 94852740 0 2012-05-17


- Matt Gurney, The National Post, April 26, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 26, 2012



SHURMAN TO McGUINTY: HOW MANY ...ALERTSo DO YOU NEED?



QUEEN'S PARK The credit alert from Standard & Poor's is just the latest ...red light flashing on Dalton McGuinty's dashboardo demanding a new path toward sustainable government spending and a jobs plan for Ontario, PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.



Shurman's comments follow S&P's announcement Wednesday that it had revised its outlook on Ontario's credit rating to ...negativeo from ...stableo in the wake of the Liberals' brokered budget deal just two days previously. S&P last put Ontario on negative watch in 2009, shortly before officially downgrading its credit rating.



...This Premier has turned a blind eye now to countless warnings that Ontario needs to change course away from a $30 billion deficit and a $411 billion accumulated debt,o Shurman said, citing:



· A 2011 pre-election Auditor General's report, calling into question the government's fiscal plan and projections

· The fall 2011 AG report, citing alarming cases of mismanagement and waste at Queen's Park

· A December credit outlook downgrading to negative from stable from Moody's Investors Service

· Subsequent StatsCan reports on Ontario job losses, now at half a million unemployed

· February's Drummond report on the urgent need to balance the budget by 2017-18

· A persistent effort by Leader Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC Caucus to press for meaningful restraint accompanied by a jobs plan for the province in the 2012 budget, and

· February's Conference Board of Canada report that warned of declining economic growth and the resulting challenges to eliminating the deficit.



...Yet in the face of all this and despite our five month-long campaign to influence the fiscal and economic direction of the government the Liberals tabled a tax-and-spend budget which they then worsened with more taxing and spending to buy extra political support,o Shurman said.



Shurman said the S&P verdict is only the latest evidence that Ontario needs a new path, demanding a reduction in the size and cost of government and a parallel plan toward an economy that creates jobs again.



...Dalton McGuinty and Dwight Duncan played a game of chicken with Ontario's finances and its budget,o Shurman said. ...Well, now those chickens are coming home to roost.



...It's time for new ideas and a new team with the courage to make them a reality. We've got some tough decisions to make and time is running out.o



For further information, contact Christine Bujold (416) 325-1330 christine.bujold@pc.ola.org]]> 864084654 Fri, 11 May 2012 14:05:24 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 864084654 0 2012-05-11


- Matt Gurney, The National Post, April 26, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 26, 2012



SHURMAN TO McGUINTY: HOW MANY ...ALERTSo DO YOU NEED?



QUEEN'S PARK The credit alert from Standard & Poor's is just the latest ...red light flashing on Dalton McGuinty's dashboardo demanding a new path toward sustainable government spending and a jobs plan for Ontario, PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.



Shurman's comments follow S&P's announcement Wednesday that it had revised its outlook on Ontario's credit rating to ...negativeo from ...stableo in the wake of the Liberals' brokered budget deal just two days previously. S&P last put Ontario on negative watch in 2009, shortly before officially downgrading its credit rating.



...This Premier has turned a blind eye now to countless warnings that Ontario needs to change course away from a $30 billion deficit and a $411 billion accumulated debt,o Shurman said, citing:



· A 2011 pre-election Auditor General's report, calling into question the government's fiscal plan and projections

· The fall 2011 AG report, citing alarming cases of mismanagement and waste at Queen's Park

· A December credit outlook downgrading to negative from stable from Moody's Investors Service

· Subsequent StatsCan reports on Ontario job losses, now at half a million unemployed

· February's Drummond report on the urgent need to balance the budget by 2017-18

· A persistent effort by Leader Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC Caucus to press for meaningful restraint accompanied by a jobs plan for the province in the 2012 budget, and

· February's Conference Board of Canada report that warned of declining economic growth and the resulting challenges to eliminating the deficit.



...Yet in the face of all this and despite our five month-long campaign to influence the fiscal and economic direction of the government the Liberals tabled a tax-and-spend budget which they then worsened with more taxing and spending to buy extra political support,o Shurman said.



Shurman said the S&P verdict is only the latest evidence that Ontario needs a new path, demanding a reduction in the size and cost of government and a parallel plan toward an economy that creates jobs again.



...Dalton McGuinty and Dwight Duncan played a game of chicken with Ontario's finances and its budget,o Shurman said. ...Well, now those chickens are coming home to roost.



...It's time for new ideas and a new team with the courage to make them a reality. We've got some tough decisions to make and time is running out.o



For further information, contact Christine Bujold (416) 325-1330 christine.bujold@pc.ola.org]]>
- Dalton McGuinty, Hansard, February 22, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 25, 2012

NOW McGUINTY EVEN TAXES THE TRUTH: SHURMAN

QUEEN'S PARK Dalton McGuinty has now so damaged his credibility as Ontario's ...financial stewardo that this in itself may harm our economy, Ontario PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.

Shurman's charge follows Tuesday's ...budget dealo in which the Premier simultaneously broke his vows not to raise taxes or increase spending while on the road to tripling the debt in order to buy political support and salvage his minority government.

...The Premier is under intense scrutiny from the credit rating agencies, investors, business and taxpayers,o Shurman noted. ...They have been waiting to see a concrete plan for turning us off the path to a $30 billion deficit and a $411 billion accumulated debt, with an acknowledgement that he has a spending problem not a revenue problem.o

Instead, Shurman said, they got a jury-rigged budget that increases both taxes and spending, digging Ontario into an even deeper hole than before the budget. This despite McGuinty's own completely contradictory statement, in The Canadian Press, on April 4:

...We're worried about costs when we have a proposal to raise taxes and expenditures. That's one thing that, in my view, given what the demands of the credit agencies are, we have to be very cautious about. That's not what credit agencies are looking for.o

...And now, in typical fashion, he's trying to blame his new tax grab on others, by calling it 'the NDP surtax',o Shurman added. ...Why are Ontarians and others with real influence on our economy not worthy of this Premier's honesty?o

Still, while hard-pressed Ontarians face another in a string of economic setbacks with Tuesday's budget deal, the Ontario PC Caucus remains focused on a real plan to reduce the size and cost of government and strengthen our economy to create jobs, Shurman said.

...We believe in a very different approach. It's one that requires urgent action on two parallel tracks one to reduce the size and cost of government, and the other to kick-start growth and job creation in the private sector.

...We have raised these priorities daily for five months. This budget addressed none of them, which is why we refused to support it.o

For further information, contact Christine Bujold (415) 325-1330 christine.bujold@pc.ola.org]]> 884870066 Fri, 11 May 2012 14:01:33 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 884870066 0 2012-05-11
- Dalton McGuinty, Hansard, February 22, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 25, 2012

NOW McGUINTY EVEN TAXES THE TRUTH: SHURMAN

QUEEN'S PARK Dalton McGuinty has now so damaged his credibility as Ontario's ...financial stewardo that this in itself may harm our economy, Ontario PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.

Shurman's charge follows Tuesday's ...budget dealo in which the Premier simultaneously broke his vows not to raise taxes or increase spending while on the road to tripling the debt in order to buy political support and salvage his minority government.

...The Premier is under intense scrutiny from the credit rating agencies, investors, business and taxpayers,o Shurman noted. ...They have been waiting to see a concrete plan for turning us off the path to a $30 billion deficit and a $411 billion accumulated debt, with an acknowledgement that he has a spending problem not a revenue problem.o

Instead, Shurman said, they got a jury-rigged budget that increases both taxes and spending, digging Ontario into an even deeper hole than before the budget. This despite McGuinty's own completely contradictory statement, in The Canadian Press, on April 4:

...We're worried about costs when we have a proposal to raise taxes and expenditures. That's one thing that, in my view, given what the demands of the credit agencies are, we have to be very cautious about. That's not what credit agencies are looking for.o

...And now, in typical fashion, he's trying to blame his new tax grab on others, by calling it 'the NDP surtax',o Shurman added. ...Why are Ontarians and others with real influence on our economy not worthy of this Premier's honesty?o

Still, while hard-pressed Ontarians face another in a string of economic setbacks with Tuesday's budget deal, the Ontario PC Caucus remains focused on a real plan to reduce the size and cost of government and strengthen our economy to create jobs, Shurman said.

...We believe in a very different approach. It's one that requires urgent action on two parallel tracks one to reduce the size and cost of government, and the other to kick-start growth and job creation in the private sector.

...We have raised these priorities daily for five months. This budget addressed none of them, which is why we refused to support it.o

For further information, contact Christine Bujold (415) 325-1330 christine.bujold@pc.ola.org]]>
"The Ontario PC Caucus voted against the Liberal budget earlier this week because it increased spending and failed to take us off the path to a $30 billion deficit. We warned the government urgent action was required. Today's downgrade of Ontario's credit rating by Moody's confirmed our fears. This is catastrophic news for Ontario. The consequences of this are very real and very troubling for our province. This will drive up interest rates and increase the cost of servicing our $280 billion debt. Every one per cent increase in interest rates will cost our province an additional $500 million. That's $500 million that could have paid for 12,000 first year elementary teachers, 8,700 first year nurses, or 250,000 MRI exams. Now more than ever we need urgent action to get our debt crisis under control. Only then can we ensure Ontario is the economic engine and leader of confederation once again."]]> 911018866 Fri, 11 May 2012 14:40:51 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 911018866 0 2012-05-11
"The Ontario PC Caucus voted against the Liberal budget earlier this week because it increased spending and failed to take us off the path to a $30 billion deficit. We warned the government urgent action was required. Today's downgrade of Ontario's credit rating by Moody's confirmed our fears. This is catastrophic news for Ontario. The consequences of this are very real and very troubling for our province. This will drive up interest rates and increase the cost of servicing our $280 billion debt. Every one per cent increase in interest rates will cost our province an additional $500 million. That's $500 million that could have paid for 12,000 first year elementary teachers, 8,700 first year nurses, or 250,000 MRI exams. Now more than ever we need urgent action to get our debt crisis under control. Only then can we ensure Ontario is the economic engine and leader of confederation once again."]]> Scott Stinson, National Post, Postmedia Network Inc.

One can forgive Ontario's Progressive Conservatives a moment's gloating.

As the province's doctors reacted with shock and indignity on Tuesday to the Liberal move to unilaterally slash fees for a host of procedures, and as Premier Dalton McGuinty steeled himself against the blowback that is coming from his long-time allies in the health and education sectors, it is the PCs who are saying, not unfairly: We told you so.

...Six months ago, we were the realists saying, 'You're going to have to deal with the unions,'o PC finance critic Peter Shurman said on Tuesday after Mr. McGuinty addressed a downtown Toronto business audience. ...We were the ones calling for a province-wide public-sector wage freeze in November,o Mr. Shurman added. ...Now, it seems, [the Premier] is coming ever closer to that.o

Mr. McGuinty is not all the way there yet. The Premier insisted on Tuesday that the fee changes announced Monday by Health Minister Deb Matthews were a key part of a plan to restrain spending growth and eliminate the deficit within five years.

...We got a pretty strong mandate from the people of Ontario,o he said, and went on to say that he believes front-line workers such as teachers know the fiscal trouble facing the province.

...I think that when they talk to each other while out grocery shopping, or going to church, or taking their kids to hockey and soccer games 1/2 they understand how were are connected to what is happening in Europe and how we are connected to what is happening in the United States,o Mr. McGuinty said. They know that economic recovery requires sacrifices from everyone, the Premier said.

Asked if he was telling other unions that, like the doctors, they will face imposed changes if they don't come to an agreement with negotiators, Mr. McGuinty demurred somewhat.

...I'm trying to let all our public-sector partners know that there is no new money in the budget we passed for increased salaries,o he said. Workers may have received generous increases in the past, but those deals were signed at a different time ' if not by a different government.

...We have to make sure 1/2 our compensation agreements are reflective of the times,o the Premier said.

But there was another message in the fee changes brought down on Monday: that workers who may not like the idea of a two-year wage freeze will like the details of an imposed deal even less. Doctors have begun to outline a host of concerns they have with the changes Ms. Matthews has announced; there seems little appetite at all from the government side in changing them.

...It's not a question of playing nice with the unions,o Mr. Shurman said yesterday. ...[Mr. McGuinty] has done that for eight years.o

The Thornhill MPP also expressed some doubt, though, that the Liberals will follow through with plans to hold the line on union wages contract by contract, and he pointed to PC leader Tim Hudak's bill that would legislate a wage freeze on the public sector as a quicker way of ensuring it gets done.

Talking to a group of business leaders, Mr. Shurman said, the Premier ...wants to be a tough guy.o

...We've been saying this for months and months and months.o

Six weeks after the March budget, the Liberals are still saying it, too.]]> 2057714844 Thu, 10 May 2012 11:47:08 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 2057714844 0 2012-05-10 Scott Stinson, National Post, Postmedia Network Inc.

One can forgive Ontario's Progressive Conservatives a moment's gloating.

As the province's doctors reacted with shock and indignity on Tuesday to the Liberal move to unilaterally slash fees for a host of procedures, and as Premier Dalton McGuinty steeled himself against the blowback that is coming from his long-time allies in the health and education sectors, it is the PCs who are saying, not unfairly: We told you so.

...Six months ago, we were the realists saying, 'You're going to have to deal with the unions,'o PC finance critic Peter Shurman said on Tuesday after Mr. McGuinty addressed a downtown Toronto business audience. ...We were the ones calling for a province-wide public-sector wage freeze in November,o Mr. Shurman added. ...Now, it seems, [the Premier] is coming ever closer to that.o

Mr. McGuinty is not all the way there yet. The Premier insisted on Tuesday that the fee changes announced Monday by Health Minister Deb Matthews were a key part of a plan to restrain spending growth and eliminate the deficit within five years.

...We got a pretty strong mandate from the people of Ontario,o he said, and went on to say that he believes front-line workers such as teachers know the fiscal trouble facing the province.

...I think that when they talk to each other while out grocery shopping, or going to church, or taking their kids to hockey and soccer games 1/2 they understand how were are connected to what is happening in Europe and how we are connected to what is happening in the United States,o Mr. McGuinty said. They know that economic recovery requires sacrifices from everyone, the Premier said.

Asked if he was telling other unions that, like the doctors, they will face imposed changes if they don't come to an agreement with negotiators, Mr. McGuinty demurred somewhat.

...I'm trying to let all our public-sector partners know that there is no new money in the budget we passed for increased salaries,o he said. Workers may have received generous increases in the past, but those deals were signed at a different time ' if not by a different government.

...We have to make sure 1/2 our compensation agreements are reflective of the times,o the Premier said.

But there was another message in the fee changes brought down on Monday: that workers who may not like the idea of a two-year wage freeze will like the details of an imposed deal even less. Doctors have begun to outline a host of concerns they have with the changes Ms. Matthews has announced; there seems little appetite at all from the government side in changing them.

...It's not a question of playing nice with the unions,o Mr. Shurman said yesterday. ...[Mr. McGuinty] has done that for eight years.o

The Thornhill MPP also expressed some doubt, though, that the Liberals will follow through with plans to hold the line on union wages contract by contract, and he pointed to PC leader Tim Hudak's bill that would legislate a wage freeze on the public sector as a quicker way of ensuring it gets done.

Talking to a group of business leaders, Mr. Shurman said, the Premier ...wants to be a tough guy.o

...We've been saying this for months and months and months.o

Six weeks after the March budget, the Liberals are still saying it, too.]]> Maria Babbage, The Canadian Press

TORONTO ' The so-called ...happy marriageo between the minority Liberals and the New Democrats didn't even last as long as Kim Kardashian's ill-fated union to Kris Humphries.

The NDP, that helped the Liberals survive a crucial budget vote just two weeks ago, is being tossed aside for Premier Dalton McGuinty's latest seduction target: the Progressive Conservatives.

McGuinty reached out to his rivals on Tuesday, saying his cash-strapped government needs their help to impose a wage freeze on broader public sector workers ' a move the NDP opposes ' if all other options at the bargaining table fail to produce one.

...I'm hopeful it doesn't come to legislated measures in order for us to deal with wage freezes,o said McGuinty, who is battling a $15-billion deficit.

...But if it does come to that, I'm hoping we can count on (Progressive Conservative Leader Tim) Hudak and his party because I believe we have some common ground there.o

The Tories have long called for an immediate pay freeze for all publicly paid workers, such as nurses and teachers, saying it will save the province $2 billion a year.

On Monday, Hudak announced plans to introduce legislation that would force a wage freeze right away.

So far, the Tories have played hard to get with the Liberals on the budget, announcing they'd vote against it the day it was tabled because it didn't do enough to stop the province from spiralling further into debt.

McGuinty said that forced him to work with the NDP instead and capitulate to their demand to hike taxes for the wealthy.

But the premier's the one who turned his back on the Tories when he refused to consider any of their suggestions for the March budget, said PC finance critic Peter Shurman.

If McGuinty is sincere about freezing wages, he should support Hudak's wage-freeze legislation, Shurman said.

...I think that if they're serious about wanting to legislate a wage freeze in the broader public sector, then they have to demonstrate so by getting together with us and engaging in reasonable debate,o he said.

...Collaboration is not a one-way thing.o

Jilted NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she's not heartbroken that her party's brief affair with the Liberals appears to be over.

...It's interesting,o she said. ...It's hard to get a sense of where the premier is at on this issue. It used to be that he very clearly said legislated submissions don't work and that's not the way to do things. And now all of a sudden that's exactly what he's reaching for.o

The Liberals have warned for years that they cannot afford any more pay increases in order to balance the books in 2017. But they're now threatening to legislate a wage freeze and back-to-work legislation if that's what it takes.

But the threat is not actually in the budget bill, which will come up for a vote in the legislature.

McGuinty's pitch to the Tories came a day after his government cut several hundred fees that are paid to doctors, which it said would save $338 million this year.

The unilateral move was the latest salvo in its battle with the Ontario Medical Association over a new labour agreement. The government is refusing to provide more money to the doctors, who say it's unfair that they'll end up absorbing the rising costs of health care in the province.]]> 1440094306 Thu, 10 May 2012 22:35:07 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 1440094306 0 2012-05-10 Maria Babbage, The Canadian Press

TORONTO ' The so-called ...happy marriageo between the minority Liberals and the New Democrats didn't even last as long as Kim Kardashian's ill-fated union to Kris Humphries.

The NDP, that helped the Liberals survive a crucial budget vote just two weeks ago, is being tossed aside for Premier Dalton McGuinty's latest seduction target: the Progressive Conservatives.

McGuinty reached out to his rivals on Tuesday, saying his cash-strapped government needs their help to impose a wage freeze on broader public sector workers ' a move the NDP opposes ' if all other options at the bargaining table fail to produce one.

...I'm hopeful it doesn't come to legislated measures in order for us to deal with wage freezes,o said McGuinty, who is battling a $15-billion deficit.

...But if it does come to that, I'm hoping we can count on (Progressive Conservative Leader Tim) Hudak and his party because I believe we have some common ground there.o

The Tories have long called for an immediate pay freeze for all publicly paid workers, such as nurses and teachers, saying it will save the province $2 billion a year.

On Monday, Hudak announced plans to introduce legislation that would force a wage freeze right away.

So far, the Tories have played hard to get with the Liberals on the budget, announcing they'd vote against it the day it was tabled because it didn't do enough to stop the province from spiralling further into debt.

McGuinty said that forced him to work with the NDP instead and capitulate to their demand to hike taxes for the wealthy.

But the premier's the one who turned his back on the Tories when he refused to consider any of their suggestions for the March budget, said PC finance critic Peter Shurman.

If McGuinty is sincere about freezing wages, he should support Hudak's wage-freeze legislation, Shurman said.

...I think that if they're serious about wanting to legislate a wage freeze in the broader public sector, then they have to demonstrate so by getting together with us and engaging in reasonable debate,o he said.

...Collaboration is not a one-way thing.o

Jilted NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she's not heartbroken that her party's brief affair with the Liberals appears to be over.

...It's interesting,o she said. ...It's hard to get a sense of where the premier is at on this issue. It used to be that he very clearly said legislated submissions don't work and that's not the way to do things. And now all of a sudden that's exactly what he's reaching for.o

The Liberals have warned for years that they cannot afford any more pay increases in order to balance the books in 2017. But they're now threatening to legislate a wage freeze and back-to-work legislation if that's what it takes.

But the threat is not actually in the budget bill, which will come up for a vote in the legislature.

McGuinty's pitch to the Tories came a day after his government cut several hundred fees that are paid to doctors, which it said would save $338 million this year.

The unilateral move was the latest salvo in its battle with the Ontario Medical Association over a new labour agreement. The government is refusing to provide more money to the doctors, who say it's unfair that they'll end up absorbing the rising costs of health care in the province.]]> 1972149567 Thu, 10 May 2012 11:15:13 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 1972149567 0 2012-05-10 Rob Ferguson Queen's Park Bureau, Torstar Corp.

Fresh from a tax-the-rich deal with the NDP, Premier Dalton McGuinty is now reaching out to the Progressive Conservatives for support in imposing a public sector wage freeze.

...It may very well be I need their support,o McGuinty said Tuesday. ...I am hoping the party on the right will be there for that.o

He also defended the ...strong medicineo his cash-strapped minority government is dishing out to doctors as the province fights a $15 billion deficit.

Fee cuts were imposed on doctors during negotiations with the Ontario Medical Association for a new contract, but McGuinty denied the move was intended to intimidate unions for teachers and other public sector workers.

The comments came a day after Conservative Leader Tim Hudak announced plans to introduce a bill calling for an immediate freeze on teachers, nurses, civil servants and other public sector workers to save $2 billion a year.

McGuinty said his own preference is still to ...try as hard as we cano to negotiate pay freezes before resorting to legislation.

...Should it come to that, we will not shirk from that responsibility,o added the premier, who has promised to balance the budget by 2017 and avoid further credit downgrades by bond-rating agencies.

Tory finance critic Peter Shurman said the Liberal government should get serious about a freeze by supporting Hudak's bill.

...It's not a question of sitting down and playing nicely with the unions, he's tried that. In fact, he's been a little bit too nice for all of those years,o the Thornhill MPP told reporters after McGuinty addressed the Ontario Economic Summit.

McGuinty reluctantly agreed to an additional tax bracket on personal incomes over $500,000 to get support from NDP Leader Andrea Horwath for his March 27 budget.

He blamed the Conservatives for not bargaining with him on the budget, which meant ...I was forced to negotiate with a party to my left.o

The premier said he's glad to have ...common groundo with Conservatives on the wage freeze, although Shurman wouldn't commit his party to supporting Liberal wage freeze legislation.

...We cross every bridge when we get to it.o

Horwath accused McGuinty of flip-flopping on previous statements that legislated wage freezes don't work.

...The desire to hold onto power is what makes people do strange things.o

She wouldn't say if the NDP would work to defeat the government's budget and force an election if McGuinty tries to pass wage freeze legislation.

...We take the legislation one piece at a time.o]]> 1020744408 Thu, 10 May 2012 11:15:56 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 1020744408 0 2012-05-10 Rob Ferguson Queen's Park Bureau, Torstar Corp.

Fresh from a tax-the-rich deal with the NDP, Premier Dalton McGuinty is now reaching out to the Progressive Conservatives for support in imposing a public sector wage freeze.

...It may very well be I need their support,o McGuinty said Tuesday. ...I am hoping the party on the right will be there for that.o

He also defended the ...strong medicineo his cash-strapped minority government is dishing out to doctors as the province fights a $15 billion deficit.

Fee cuts were imposed on doctors during negotiations with the Ontario Medical Association for a new contract, but McGuinty denied the move was intended to intimidate unions for teachers and other public sector workers.

The comments came a day after Conservative Leader Tim Hudak announced plans to introduce a bill calling for an immediate freeze on teachers, nurses, civil servants and other public sector workers to save $2 billion a year.

McGuinty said his own preference is still to ...try as hard as we cano to negotiate pay freezes before resorting to legislation.

...Should it come to that, we will not shirk from that responsibility,o added the premier, who has promised to balance the budget by 2017 and avoid further credit downgrades by bond-rating agencies.

Tory finance critic Peter Shurman said the Liberal government should get serious about a freeze by supporting Hudak's bill.

...It's not a question of sitting down and playing nicely with the unions, he's tried that. In fact, he's been a little bit too nice for all of those years,o the Thornhill MPP told reporters after McGuinty addressed the Ontario Economic Summit.

McGuinty reluctantly agreed to an additional tax bracket on personal incomes over $500,000 to get support from NDP Leader Andrea Horwath for his March 27 budget.

He blamed the Conservatives for not bargaining with him on the budget, which meant ...I was forced to negotiate with a party to my left.o

The premier said he's glad to have ...common groundo with Conservatives on the wage freeze, although Shurman wouldn't commit his party to supporting Liberal wage freeze legislation.

...We cross every bridge when we get to it.o

Horwath accused McGuinty of flip-flopping on previous statements that legislated wage freezes don't work.

...The desire to hold onto power is what makes people do strange things.o

She wouldn't say if the NDP would work to defeat the government's budget and force an election if McGuinty tries to pass wage freeze legislation.

...We take the legislation one piece at a time.o]]> - The Drummond Report, page ix

...The worst thing we could do is proceed in haste.o

- Dwight Duncan on a legislated wage freeze, Hansard, May 9, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 10, 2012

WAGE FREEZE FIRST STEP TO PROTECTING PRIORITY SERVICES: SHURMAN

QUEEN'S PARK An immediate legislated public sector salary freeze would save taxpayers $2 billion just as Ontario needs to kick-start economic growth and protect core services in the face of a credit downgrade and higher borrowing costs, PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.

...The Number One thing we need to do is get our fiscal house in order in the face of a looming $30 billion deficit and $411 billion debt,o Shurman said. ...But we can't do that without reining in the ballooning cost of the public payroll.

...It's only fair to other Ontarians whose incomes are stagnating today and it's the right place to start to enable economic growth and protect priorities like health and education.o

Shurman's comments follow continuing Ontario PC demands that the government adopt the Party's forthcoming legislation to immediately freeze public sector wages across the board, with no exceptions.

...Spending under this government has increased by $20 billion in just four years, up to their most recent budget which was immediately sideswiped by a credit rating downgrade,o Shurman said, adding that the total amount paid to public sector workers in Ontario has increased by 46 percent since 2003.

...So a big part of the jump in this government's uncontrolled spending was the result of forking over unaffordable settlements to the unions that have bankrolled the Liberals' campaigns. Well, we see now that the 'goodwill' this bought then has evaporated now.o

Shurman noted that this government is a party to nearly 4,000 contracts with public sector workers. ...With such an unmanageable number it's no surprise that the Liberals' 'voluntary' approach to wage restraint was a total failure according to the Ministry of Labour's own statistics.o

Shurman said his message to the Liberals was not to stall a week longer in legislating a public sector wage freeze. ...Or better yet vote for our bill. Because if you won't do it we will.o

For further information, contact Christine Bujold (416) 325-1330 christinebujold@pc.ola.org ]]> 1112423438 Thu, 10 May 2012 10:51:57 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 1112423438 0 2012-05-10 - The Drummond Report, page ix

...The worst thing we could do is proceed in haste.o

- Dwight Duncan on a legislated wage freeze, Hansard, May 9, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 10, 2012

WAGE FREEZE FIRST STEP TO PROTECTING PRIORITY SERVICES: SHURMAN

QUEEN'S PARK An immediate legislated public sector salary freeze would save taxpayers $2 billion just as Ontario needs to kick-start economic growth and protect core services in the face of a credit downgrade and higher borrowing costs, PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.

...The Number One thing we need to do is get our fiscal house in order in the face of a looming $30 billion deficit and $411 billion debt,o Shurman said. ...But we can't do that without reining in the ballooning cost of the public payroll.

...It's only fair to other Ontarians whose incomes are stagnating today and it's the right place to start to enable economic growth and protect priorities like health and education.o

Shurman's comments follow continuing Ontario PC demands that the government adopt the Party's forthcoming legislation to immediately freeze public sector wages across the board, with no exceptions.

...Spending under this government has increased by $20 billion in just four years, up to their most recent budget which was immediately sideswiped by a credit rating downgrade,o Shurman said, adding that the total amount paid to public sector workers in Ontario has increased by 46 percent since 2003.

...So a big part of the jump in this government's uncontrolled spending was the result of forking over unaffordable settlements to the unions that have bankrolled the Liberals' campaigns. Well, we see now that the 'goodwill' this bought then has evaporated now.o

Shurman noted that this government is a party to nearly 4,000 contracts with public sector workers. ...With such an unmanageable number it's no surprise that the Liberals' 'voluntary' approach to wage restraint was a total failure according to the Ministry of Labour's own statistics.o

Shurman said his message to the Liberals was not to stall a week longer in legislating a public sector wage freeze. ...Or better yet vote for our bill. Because if you won't do it we will.o

For further information, contact Christine Bujold (416) 325-1330 christinebujold@pc.ola.org ]]> By Jonathan Jenkins ,Queen's Park Bureau, QMI Agency

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty is on the prowl for a new political partner to help him keep a lid on public sector compensation.

After working out an agreement with NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to get the Liberal budget passed, McGuinty said he's now looking to PC Leader Tim Hudak to back up any move to legislate pay freezes.

...First of all, I'm hopeful it doesn't come to legislated measures in order for us to deal with wage freezes, but secondly, should it come to that, I think it's important that the public sector, our public sector partners know that we will not shrink from that responsibility,o McGuinty said Tuesday. ...If it does come to that... I'm hoping we can count on Mr. Hudak and his party because I believe we have some common ground there.o

The minority McGuinty government moved on its own this week to lower OHIP fees for doctors, and is now staring down unhappy teacher unions.

His government has not budgeted for compensation increases for either group of public servants.

If the Liberals opt to resolve outstanding bargaining issues with legislation, they will need support from one of the two opposition parties.

Tory MPP Peter Shurman said his party supports a legislated pay freeze on all public sector wages, but will consider any proposal from McGuinty.

...If they're serious about wanting to legislate a wage freeze in the broader public sector, then they have to demonstrate by getting together with us and engaging in reasonable debate,o Shurman said.

McGuinty has been so ...niceo that the average broader public sector worker now makes about 27% more than an equivalent employee in the private sector ' an unsustainable situation that's helping propel the province toward a $411 billion debt by 2017-18, Shurman said.

Horwath, whose budget negotiations with McGuinty led to a new tax on the rich and increased spending in some areas, said she does not believe in a legislated solution to disputes in collective bargaining.]]> 850594780 Thu, 10 May 2012 12:45:57 GMT Peter Shurman http://www.petershurman.com 1530200025 850594780 0 2012-05-10 By Jonathan Jenkins ,Queen's Park Bureau, QMI Agency

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty is on the prowl for a new political partner to help him keep a lid on public sector compensation.

After working out an agreement with NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to get the Liberal budget passed, McGuinty said he's now looking to PC Leader Tim Hudak to back up any move to legislate pay freezes.

...First of all, I'm hopeful it doesn't come to legislated measures in order for us to deal with wage freezes, but secondly, should it come to that, I think it's important that the public sector, our public sector partners know that we will not shrink from that responsibility,o McGuinty said Tuesday. ...If it does come to that... I'm hoping we can count on Mr. Hudak and his party because I believe we have some common ground there.o

The minority McGuinty government moved on its own this week to lower OHIP fees for doctors, and is now staring down unhappy teacher unions.

His government has not budgeted for compensation increases for either group of public servants.

If the Liberals opt to resolve outstanding bargaining issues with legislation, they will need support from one of the two opposition parties.

Tory MPP Peter Shurman said his party supports a legislated pay freeze on all public sector wages, but will consider any proposal from McGuinty.

...If they're serious about wanting to legislate a wage freeze in the broader public sector, then they have to demonstrate by getting together with us and engaging in reasonable debate,o Shurman said.

McGuinty has been so ...niceo that the average broader public sector worker now makes about 27% more than an equivalent employee in the private sector ' an unsustainable situation that's helping propel the province toward a $411 billion debt by 2017-18, Shurman said.

Horwath, whose budget negotiations with McGuinty led to a new tax on the rich and increased spending in some areas, said she does not believe in a legislated solution to disputes in collective bargaining.]]>