For Immediate Release
April 27, 2006

Two veteran Tory MPPs demand help for Eastern Ontario

Sterling and Runciman use their Private Members’ time to present solutions to economic challenges facing the region

Queen’s Park, Toronto – Next Thursday Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling will use his time during Private Members’ Business to again bring forward his Bill to create an Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund.  Today Mr. Sterling spoke in support of Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman’s Private Member’s Resolution to create an Eastern Ontario Secretariat within the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

“The McGuinty government has long ignored the needs of Eastern Ontario, despite being led by a member from Ottawa ,” said Mr. Sterling.  “As a result we are both using our Private Member’s time to push the government to do something to help the region attract economic development.” 

Mr. Runciman’s resolution passed unanimously.  “It’s now up to the McGuinty government to follow through on the expressed will of the Legislative Assembly, and I will press them to do just that,” Mr. Runciman concluded.

One year ago Mr. Sterling’s Bill passed second reading with unanimous support but the Government allowed it to die on the order paper when McGuinty Prorogued the Legislature last September. 

Over the past year and a half Eastern Ontario has lost almost 1,600 jobs.  Many of these job losses have come in small communities where other employment opportunities are few and far between.  Two companies in Smiths Falls , Hershey Chocolate and Coiltech, announced approximately 100 layoffs last year. 

During the debate Mr. Runciman listed some of the other job losses:  “Mahle Brockhaus in Gananoque, a recent closure, is moving to Mexico and the United States —90 jobs. Nestlé, which is in a neighbouring riding in Chesterville, a factory that had been in this part of the province for as long as most of us can remember—300 jobs. The Harrowsmith cheese factory, another historic operation—89 jobs.”

Even Eastern Ontarians not directly affected by these job losses are being left behind the rest of Ontario because the median incomes in many of the municipalities are lower than the median across Ontario .  The job losses and lower paying jobs are resulting in low population growth and in some areas even a decline in the population. 

“I would be very happy to see the McGuinty government pass either my Bill or Mr. Runciman’s resolution,” said Mr. Sterling.  “Either an Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund or an Eastern Ontario Secretariat would provide a strong economic stimulus for the region.”

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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900

BACKGROUNDER

Economic Statistics for Eastern Ontario

Plant Closures/Job Losses in Eastern Ontario

By comparison, Ontario’s population increased 6.1% between 1996 and 2001. In 2001 the median income for Ontarians was $24,816.