Premier Refuses to Answer Question on Oxford Layoffs

QUEEN’S PARK – Today Premier Wynne refused to respond to a question from Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman which asked her to change her government’s approach that is forcing jobs out of Oxford and Ontario.

“Over the past 10 months there have been 1,300 layoffs announced in Oxford at three different factories including Siemens in Tillsonburg,” said Hardeman during the question. “Yet your government continues to drive jobs out of Oxford and Ontario by increasing the cost of doing business and making it harder for our companies to compete.”

The Premier refused to answer the question and instead referred it to a Minister of Economic Development who said “…from time to time plants do close.”

On the supplementary Hardeman once again asked the question to the Premier and specifically asked her to answer. “With all due respect to the Minister, the people who have lost their jobs want to hear from the Premier on this issue.”

In response to the layoffs and concerns raised by local businesses Hardeman has launched a Shop Local, Buy Local initiative to encourage the people of Oxford to support our businesses whenever possible. He is also continuing to push the government to address the policies that increase the cost of operating in Ontario and make it more difficult for businesses to be competitive.

“Premier, 1,300 job losses in Oxford alone should make it clear your policies aren’t working,” said Hardeman during the question. “Will you commit to change your approach and stop piling new costs and regulations on our businesses to save the jobs that we have left?”

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For more information, contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

(416) 325-1239