Howard Hampton, MPP Kenora-Rainy River, today asked why the McGuinty Liberal government is ignoring the financial restructuring of AbitibiBowater where 4,000 good jobs are at risk – while at the same time the Liberal government is contributing $1.25-billion to the financial restructuring of Chrysler to sustain good jobs in Windsor and Brampton.

In the Legislature, Hampton asked: "Why is the McGuinty Liberal government completely missing in action in the financial restructuring of AbitibiBowater where 4,000 good jobs in Northern Ontario are at risk?"

Earlier, Economic Development Minister Michael Bryant had argued that the McGuinty Liberal government must put $1.25-billion into Chrysler or the Chrysler plants in Windsor and Brampton would close, and the production and jobs would move to the United States. Hampton agreed with Minister Bryant's point regarding Chrysler and says the same reasoning applies to the AbitibiBowater restructuring and the need to sustain good jobs in Northern Ontarian communities like Thunder Bay.

Hampton also noted that at the same time the McGuinty Liberals are missing in action in the AbitibiBowater financial restructuring, the Quebec government has advanced $100-million of Debtor-in-Possession financing to the AbitibiBowater restructuring to ensure good forest sector jobs are sustained in that province.

"The Quebec government will now be in a very powerful position when the decisions are made on which mills to close, which mills to sell, and which mills to keep," Hampton said.

"It is clear that the Quebec government will use its $100-million of Debtor-in-Possession financing to demand that Quebec mills remain open, and Quebec jobs be sustained," said Hampton, "and it is also clear that the McGuinty Liberals will not be at the decision making table advocating for mills, communities and workers in Northern Ontario."

"New Democrats believe the Ontario government should help to sustain good Northern Ontario jobs at Abitibi-Bowater, just as the Ontario government is investing to help sustain good jobs at Chrysler in Brampton and Windsor. It’s only fair,” Hampton said.