Tim Hudak lays out his vision for Ontario at fundraiser

Tory Leader Tim Hudak says he has the right vision for Ontario.

He told his annual fundraising dinner it includes bringing unions to heel, getting rid of “expensive gold-standard” public pensions, new subways, introducing performance levels for bureaucrats, freezing public-sector wages for two years, and giving tax breaks for employers.

“We will modernize our labour laws so that no worker will be forced to join a union as a condition for taking a job. And no business will be forced to hire a company solely because it has a unionized workforce,” he said.

Speaking to the crowd of 1,200 that raised $2.1 million for the Progressive Conservatives, Hudak painted a picture of a province in decline, where too many people are jobless and red tape is strangling success.

“As I travel across the province, people tell me things are pretty tough right now,” he said.

Hudak said the time for talk about improving transit is over — especially talk of sticking taxpayers with the bill through tolls and fees.

“There’s no shortage of politicians talking about how important this issue is, but what matters is who will take action and get the job done. I’m prepared to do what it takes,” he said.

“They believe the solution is simply for Ontarians to hand over more money. I believe Ontarians are already giving a lot. They are doing their part. It’s time for the government to do ours.”

Hudak said his vision does not include above ground rapid transit but subways, while at the same time extending highways.

“We believe in building underground, not ripping up existing streets. That’s why we will invest in new subways — north to Richmond Hill, east to Scarborough — and new highways, extending the 427 north. To protect taxpayers and promote customer service, we will leverage public-private partnerships to design, finance, build and operate the systems,” he said.

Hudak also said a Tory government would “upload” TTC subways and light rail transit (LRT) and integrate them with GO rail, all under the purview of the province.

“We will also bring in the regional highways — Don Valley, Gardiner, 400 series — because it only makes sense that one body thinks about both highways and transit, instead of pitting one against the other,” he said.

Hudak said it is time for government to concentrate on programs that the taxpayer simply can’t afford.

“Government pensions are a ticking time bomb to the tune of a $100 billion-unfunded liability. We will move new government employees from expensive gold-standard pension plans to more affordable retirement savings programs like those common in the private sector,” he said.

The Tory leader spoke directly to investors looking at other states or provinces, urging them to take a second look at Ontario,

“Because our comeback is about to start. We’ve done it before. We’ve stood up, dusted ourselves off and ushered in a new era of prosperity,” he said.

His plans for Ontario are outlined in the party’s Pathways to Prosperity.

Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author:  Richard J. Brennan