TORY DEFINES VISION FOR
STRONG TORONTO
John Tory
outlines plans for strong economy, fixing the municipal fiscal imbalance,
safe communities, and helping those in need
(TORONTO,
ON) – Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory today addressed the
Toronto Board of Trade and presented his agenda to strengthen the economy
and the social fabric in Toronto.
“I believe
we will never have a strong and prosperous Ontario without a strong and
prosperous Toronto,” Tory said, “Our plan recognizes the need to
upload costs from the municipalities to the province.
At the same time, I believe all governments must be able to look
the taxpayer in the eye and assure them that every dollar is being spent
as well as it can be. While I
believe that there has been some work done by the City under the Mayor’s
leadership, I believe there is more to be done.”
Mr. Tory
provided an overview of his plans to revive Toronto’s and Ontario’s
economy, and to reverse the erosion of competitive position that has taken
place under the Dalton McGuinty government.
“We must
work together to implement an economic strategy that maximizes Toronto’s
potential. It is the only way
to get the results that the people of Ontario and the people of Toronto
expect and deserve. We must
ensure that we have the business and taxation climate, the investment and
regulatory environment, as well as the fairness and equity we need to both
attract investment and jobs to our city, while strengthening its social
fabric,” said Tory.
Mr. Tory
also outlined his commitment to helping Toronto in its current fiscal
crisis. In particular he
pointed out that the Ontario PC Party’s Leadership Matters plan includes
commitments to:
-
Invest $800 million in Ontario transit programs, including $150 million in year one, through the PC party’s ‘Truth in Taxes’ commitment;
-
Use a budgeted provincial surplus to begin the uploading of social services to municipalities based on ongoing municipal-provincial financial review;
-
Put and end to ‘catch-and-release’ practices in the justice system that leave vulnerable families at risk;
-
Provide more support for families and children in at risk-neighbourhoods and better partner with the City in delivering them;
-
Provide stable long-term funding to Ontario’s arts and cultural communities;
-
Provide more support for new Canadians so that they can succeed in their new home; and
-
Renew challenged neighbourhoods, including improving public housing and providing more support for improved community facilities.
“I
passionately believe that if Toronto is to remain one of the world’s
great cities, we have to do a better job of addressing the issues of
crime, poverty and isolation that leave so many families at risk.” Tory
concluded, “We need new leadership if we are to put economic growth,
community safety and social progress back at the centre of our agenda.
That’s why leadership matters.”
