en 60 1748091438 Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1748091438 0 2013-05-16 373468667 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 373468667 0 2013-05-14
May 12th, 2013


LIBERALS ONLY INTERESTED ON PROTECTING THEIR POWER: SHURMAN


THORNHILL At a time when half a million men and women are unemployed and our province's debt is set to triple, the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals' presented a budget intended to protect their political power and make these problems even worse, PC MPP Peter Shurman said today.


...Ontario has a problem,o said Shurman. ...But rather than taking the necessary measures to address Ontario's excessive debt and stagnant employment rates, Premier Wynne and the Liberals are only interested in protecting their power.o


Shurman added that much like their decision to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to save five Liberal seats, this budget is a desperate attempt to buy the NDP's support and cling to their political power. ...The only jobs this budget protects are those of Liberal and NDP MPPs.o


Today, Shurman sent a letter to NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue discouraging the NDP from voting in favour of the budget. ...An abstention or vote in favour of this budget is a vote in favour of incompetence, scandals and wasted taxpayers dollars.o


In the letter Shurman said, ...A budget for Ontarians would have contained a plan to create jobs and a plan for the Liberal government to live within its means not increase spending by $3.6 billion and causing the deficit to rise to $12 billion.


It is clear that the Liberals will spend whatever it takes to cling to power. Unfortunately, each time the NDP makes another demand, the Liberals are keen to grant it, continued Shurman. ...A billion dollars wasted on gas plants and a billion dollars in new spending initiatives to buy the NDP's support will not put us on the right track.


...I can understand why leaving the Liberals in power is in the best interest of Kathleen Wynne. And I can see how leaving the Liberals in power is in the best interest of the NDP. But leaving the Liberals in power is not in the best interest of Ontario,o concluded Shurman.


...With a new team with a new plan, Ontario can and will do better.o


For more information contact: Christine Bujold | Christine.bujold@pc.ola.org | 416-325-1330]]> 1157024570 Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1157024570 0 2013-05-13
May 12th, 2013


LIBERALS ONLY INTERESTED ON PROTECTING THEIR POWER: SHURMAN


THORNHILL At a time when half a million men and women are unemployed and our province's debt is set to triple, the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals' presented a budget intended to protect their political power and make these problems even worse, PC MPP Peter Shurman said today.


...Ontario has a problem,o said Shurman. ...But rather than taking the necessary measures to address Ontario's excessive debt and stagnant employment rates, Premier Wynne and the Liberals are only interested in protecting their power.o


Shurman added that much like their decision to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to save five Liberal seats, this budget is a desperate attempt to buy the NDP's support and cling to their political power. ...The only jobs this budget protects are those of Liberal and NDP MPPs.o


Today, Shurman sent a letter to NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue discouraging the NDP from voting in favour of the budget. ...An abstention or vote in favour of this budget is a vote in favour of incompetence, scandals and wasted taxpayers dollars.o


In the letter Shurman said, ...A budget for Ontarians would have contained a plan to create jobs and a plan for the Liberal government to live within its means not increase spending by $3.6 billion and causing the deficit to rise to $12 billion.


It is clear that the Liberals will spend whatever it takes to cling to power. Unfortunately, each time the NDP makes another demand, the Liberals are keen to grant it, continued Shurman. ...A billion dollars wasted on gas plants and a billion dollars in new spending initiatives to buy the NDP's support will not put us on the right track.


...I can understand why leaving the Liberals in power is in the best interest of Kathleen Wynne. And I can see how leaving the Liberals in power is in the best interest of the NDP. But leaving the Liberals in power is not in the best interest of Ontario,o concluded Shurman.


...With a new team with a new plan, Ontario can and will do better.o


For more information contact: Christine Bujold | Christine.bujold@pc.ola.org | 416-325-1330]]>
May 13, 2013


TIME IS MONEY AND ONTARIO IS OUT OF BOTH


QUEEN'S PARK Ontario is paying the price in more lost jobs and a growing debt as the Liberals and NDP waste time haggling over the budget, PC Leader Tim Hudak said today.


...Too many people family members and friends we know are out of work,o Hudak said. ...And while they pound the pavement, investors and the credit rating agencies are watching as every day goes by.


...They don't want to see a bidding war for spending more. They want to see an action plan for spending less. We're running out of time.o


Hudak was joined by Finance Critic Peter Shurman to remind taxpayers of what happened the last time the Liberals used their money to buy NDP support for their overspending plan in 2012.


...In the year since, the government worker payroll has swollen by 48,000 jobs, we've lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs and Ontario's credit rating took yet another hit,o Hudak said. ...It's all put the things we value most at risk. Ontario can do better but we must act.o


Shurman said the budget wrangling has to stop. ...Trouble is, it could go on forever. The Liberals and NDP will never run out of ideas for spending money we don't have.o


Hudak said it's more evidence that neither party grasps the urgency of our situation: ...We need to turn off the path of borrowing costs that are now the third biggest expenditure in government.


...Only the Ontario PCs have a plan to get our fiscal house in order and our economic fundamentals right to create jobs.o


For further information, contact Jacqui Delaney (647)295-7361 jacqui.delaney@pc.ola.org]]> 427608573 Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 427608573 0 2013-05-13
May 13, 2013


TIME IS MONEY AND ONTARIO IS OUT OF BOTH


QUEEN'S PARK Ontario is paying the price in more lost jobs and a growing debt as the Liberals and NDP waste time haggling over the budget, PC Leader Tim Hudak said today.


...Too many people family members and friends we know are out of work,o Hudak said. ...And while they pound the pavement, investors and the credit rating agencies are watching as every day goes by.


...They don't want to see a bidding war for spending more. They want to see an action plan for spending less. We're running out of time.o


Hudak was joined by Finance Critic Peter Shurman to remind taxpayers of what happened the last time the Liberals used their money to buy NDP support for their overspending plan in 2012.


...In the year since, the government worker payroll has swollen by 48,000 jobs, we've lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs and Ontario's credit rating took yet another hit,o Hudak said. ...It's all put the things we value most at risk. Ontario can do better but we must act.o


Shurman said the budget wrangling has to stop. ...Trouble is, it could go on forever. The Liberals and NDP will never run out of ideas for spending money we don't have.o


Hudak said it's more evidence that neither party grasps the urgency of our situation: ...We need to turn off the path of borrowing costs that are now the third biggest expenditure in government.


...Only the Ontario PCs have a plan to get our fiscal house in order and our economic fundamentals right to create jobs.o


For further information, contact Jacqui Delaney (647)295-7361 jacqui.delaney@pc.ola.org]]> 1410006824 Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1410006824 0 2013-05-09 549054948 Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 549054948 0 2013-05-07
May 3, 2013

NDP-LIBERAL BUDGET PUTS POLITICAL POWER BEFORE TAXPAYERS

QUEEN'S PARK Yesterday's budget is just the latest evidence that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals are putting their Party ahead of the interests of taxpayers, PC MPP Peter Shurman said today.

...At a time when over half a million people are out of work and Ontario's debt is set to triple, the only thing the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals are focused on is clinging to power,o said Shurman. ...Whether it's half a billion dollars on gas plants or a billion dollars to buy the NDP's support, it is clear that the Liberals will spend anything to keep their power.o

Shurman noted that Premier Wynne's first budget spent $1 billion on Andrea Horwath's laundry list of demands - further compounding Ontario's debt crisis. The budget also takes $1.5 billion out of the economy by cancelling HST tax credits for businesses. ...We've got to stop kidding ourselves: Ontario has a big problem and this government is just making it worse.o

...Ontario's massive debt payments are now threatening our ability to afford important investments in schools, hospitals, highways and subways. As a result of the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals' deliberate decisions, we are paying more for debt interest than we pay for the entire transportation budget,o added Shurman.

...Just like their gas plant scandal, this budget deal with the NDP is another costly Liberal 'business expense' that puts the interests of their Party ahead of taxpayers.

...Ontarians need a government that will grow the economy and stop the overspending,o concluded Shurman. ...We can't afford an NDP-Liberal government willing to spend billions of dollars to protect their political skins.o

For further information, contact Christine Bujold (416) 325-1330 christine.bujold@pc.ola.org]]> 1959848026 Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1959848026 0 2013-05-06
May 3, 2013

NDP-LIBERAL BUDGET PUTS POLITICAL POWER BEFORE TAXPAYERS

QUEEN'S PARK Yesterday's budget is just the latest evidence that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals are putting their Party ahead of the interests of taxpayers, PC MPP Peter Shurman said today.

...At a time when over half a million people are out of work and Ontario's debt is set to triple, the only thing the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals are focused on is clinging to power,o said Shurman. ...Whether it's half a billion dollars on gas plants or a billion dollars to buy the NDP's support, it is clear that the Liberals will spend anything to keep their power.o

Shurman noted that Premier Wynne's first budget spent $1 billion on Andrea Horwath's laundry list of demands - further compounding Ontario's debt crisis. The budget also takes $1.5 billion out of the economy by cancelling HST tax credits for businesses. ...We've got to stop kidding ourselves: Ontario has a big problem and this government is just making it worse.o

...Ontario's massive debt payments are now threatening our ability to afford important investments in schools, hospitals, highways and subways. As a result of the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals' deliberate decisions, we are paying more for debt interest than we pay for the entire transportation budget,o added Shurman.

...Just like their gas plant scandal, this budget deal with the NDP is another costly Liberal 'business expense' that puts the interests of their Party ahead of taxpayers.

...Ontarians need a government that will grow the economy and stop the overspending,o concluded Shurman. ...We can't afford an NDP-Liberal government willing to spend billions of dollars to protect their political skins.o

For further information, contact Christine Bujold (416) 325-1330 christine.bujold@pc.ola.org]]> 1253879114 Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1253879114 0 2013-05-01
ByJonathon Liedtke, Metroland Media

There's a chance that LCBO employees will be going on strike for Victoria Day weekend as 95% of unionized employees have voted in favour of striking and have set a deadline of May 17, the day before the Victoria Day weekend.

...We are still at the [negotiating] table and dates have been set through at least mid-May,o explained Heather Macgregor, media relations coordinator for the LCBO.

While negotiations began in February, Macgregor explained that so far there has only been roughly 17 hours of face-to-face bargaining.

...We are still focused on getting back to the table and getting a deal that's fair to the employees but also to the taxpayers,o said Macgregor who declined to comment on how the negotiations were going.

...Given that there's only been 17 hours and the union has kind of changed gears a little bit this week and has decided to hold a rally [and] about ten days ago they held a strike vote, our thinking is that the focus really should be at getting to the table and enough with these distractions,o said Macgregor who went on to stress that the union has the attention of management.

"They've said that these steps are necessary to get our attention, but the reality is, they have it,o said Macgregor. ...We are at the table, we're committed to staying there and getting a deal and we'd like to see a little bit more focus put there.o

Macgregor noted that the LCBO has a plan in place to provide some level of service to Ontarians in the event of a strike, however she was unable to explain what level of service would be provided.

...I'm not in a position to get into the details of that plan right now and frankly it's not necessary because we've been here at least twice before,o said Macgregor.

In 2005 and 2009, the LCBO was in negotiations with the collective bargaining unit and reached the same stage the are in presently.

...In both of those instances we were able to negotiate a deal and we're very optimistic that that's going to happen this time,o said Macgregor.

...If you recall about two weeks ago when the government caved into teachers, [I] specifically said that they'd caved in and that given the fact that they've demonstrated that they don't have the resolve to stand firm when cost control is an essential, that they were opening the door to 4,000 collective agreements, with various branches of the broader public sector, being questioned,o said MP Peter Shurman, PC Finance Critic.

Shurman believes that the Ontario Public Service Employee Union (OPSEU) which represents the 6,700 bargaining unit employees that the LCBO employs are building their strike campaign on the heels of a bitter labour tensions between the government and teachers' unions.

...Why if you can change the rules of the game with teachers wouldn't you be able to change them with anybody we said,o questioned Shurman. ...Here's Smoky Thomas, OPSEU and his LCBO workers saying 'If you don't sit down and work this out with us, you won't be able to buy your LCBO products for May 24 weekend.'o

...If that's not putting Ontarians up against the wall in the face of the collective strength of organized labour, just because it can, especially in a monopoly position, then I don't know what is,o said Shurman.

Shurman explained that he is disappointed with Warren (Smoky) Thomas (the president of the OPSEU), OPSEU membership, LCBO employees and the Liberal government itself before noting that the government ...will pay.o

When asked whether or not he believed that a strike would actually occur, Shurman responded, ...Sure. Could there be a strike, I'm not a fortune teller 1/2 they've decided that they will if they don't get what they want.o

Shurman believes that there is a need for better distribution of beer and wine in the province overall and pointed to his party's recent whitepapers on alcohol delivery in the province as examples of what could be done.

...I still think that we need to look at better distribution for beer and wine 1/2 you can look at the [LCBO] wholesale, retail division [or] the whole thing,o said Shurman. ...The jury is still out.o

...Right now the issue is we've got one place to buy liquor, we've got the greatest gateway weekend of the year coming, and that's when our broader public sector workers are telling the Wynne government what it can and can't do,o said Shurman.]]> 1616651805 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1616651805 0 2013-04-26
ByJonathon Liedtke, Metroland Media

There's a chance that LCBO employees will be going on strike for Victoria Day weekend as 95% of unionized employees have voted in favour of striking and have set a deadline of May 17, the day before the Victoria Day weekend.

...We are still at the [negotiating] table and dates have been set through at least mid-May,o explained Heather Macgregor, media relations coordinator for the LCBO.

While negotiations began in February, Macgregor explained that so far there has only been roughly 17 hours of face-to-face bargaining.

...We are still focused on getting back to the table and getting a deal that's fair to the employees but also to the taxpayers,o said Macgregor who declined to comment on how the negotiations were going.

...Given that there's only been 17 hours and the union has kind of changed gears a little bit this week and has decided to hold a rally [and] about ten days ago they held a strike vote, our thinking is that the focus really should be at getting to the table and enough with these distractions,o said Macgregor who went on to stress that the union has the attention of management.

"They've said that these steps are necessary to get our attention, but the reality is, they have it,o said Macgregor. ...We are at the table, we're committed to staying there and getting a deal and we'd like to see a little bit more focus put there.o

Macgregor noted that the LCBO has a plan in place to provide some level of service to Ontarians in the event of a strike, however she was unable to explain what level of service would be provided.

...I'm not in a position to get into the details of that plan right now and frankly it's not necessary because we've been here at least twice before,o said Macgregor.

In 2005 and 2009, the LCBO was in negotiations with the collective bargaining unit and reached the same stage the are in presently.

...In both of those instances we were able to negotiate a deal and we're very optimistic that that's going to happen this time,o said Macgregor.

...If you recall about two weeks ago when the government caved into teachers, [I] specifically said that they'd caved in and that given the fact that they've demonstrated that they don't have the resolve to stand firm when cost control is an essential, that they were opening the door to 4,000 collective agreements, with various branches of the broader public sector, being questioned,o said MP Peter Shurman, PC Finance Critic.

Shurman believes that the Ontario Public Service Employee Union (OPSEU) which represents the 6,700 bargaining unit employees that the LCBO employs are building their strike campaign on the heels of a bitter labour tensions between the government and teachers' unions.

...Why if you can change the rules of the game with teachers wouldn't you be able to change them with anybody we said,o questioned Shurman. ...Here's Smoky Thomas, OPSEU and his LCBO workers saying 'If you don't sit down and work this out with us, you won't be able to buy your LCBO products for May 24 weekend.'o

...If that's not putting Ontarians up against the wall in the face of the collective strength of organized labour, just because it can, especially in a monopoly position, then I don't know what is,o said Shurman.

Shurman explained that he is disappointed with Warren (Smoky) Thomas (the president of the OPSEU), OPSEU membership, LCBO employees and the Liberal government itself before noting that the government ...will pay.o

When asked whether or not he believed that a strike would actually occur, Shurman responded, ...Sure. Could there be a strike, I'm not a fortune teller 1/2 they've decided that they will if they don't get what they want.o

Shurman believes that there is a need for better distribution of beer and wine in the province overall and pointed to his party's recent whitepapers on alcohol delivery in the province as examples of what could be done.

...I still think that we need to look at better distribution for beer and wine 1/2 you can look at the [LCBO] wholesale, retail division [or] the whole thing,o said Shurman. ...The jury is still out.o

...Right now the issue is we've got one place to buy liquor, we've got the greatest gateway weekend of the year coming, and that's when our broader public sector workers are telling the Wynne government what it can and can't do,o said Shurman.]]> Posted By: Katie Franzios, Astral Media

The Ontario Tories are moving ahead with the party's plan to table a non-confidence motion this week, meaning you may be headed to the polls sooner than you thought.

It's all surrounding the Mississauga and Oakville gas plant cancellations - how much they cost and how the Progressive Conservatives say the Liberals are dancing around the issue.

They're party will meet in an emergency session to discuss the issue on Monday.

Claiming the Liberals mislead the public, PC finance critic Peter Shurman says his party has lost confidence in the Liberals and so have the people of Ontario.

Slamming his fist on the podium, Shurman says the Liberals are only interested in protecting themselves, pointing to how they answer questions about the gas plants at the legislature.

Shurman says house leaders from all three parties will meet to discuss how and if this will be tabled.]]> 1560872665 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400 1530200025 1560872665 0 2013-04-24 Posted By: Katie Franzios, Astral Media

The Ontario Tories are moving ahead with the party's plan to table a non-confidence motion this week, meaning you may be headed to the polls sooner than you thought.

It's all surrounding the Mississauga and Oakville gas plant cancellations - how much they cost and how the Progressive Conservatives say the Liberals are dancing around the issue.

They're party will meet in an emergency session to discuss the issue on Monday.

Claiming the Liberals mislead the public, PC finance critic Peter Shurman says his party has lost confidence in the Liberals and so have the people of Ontario.

Slamming his fist on the podium, Shurman says the Liberals are only interested in protecting themselves, pointing to how they answer questions about the gas plants at the legislature.

Shurman says house leaders from all three parties will meet to discuss how and if this will be tabled.]]>