In the wake of another 630 manufacturing jobs lost in southwestern Ontario, NDP Leader Howard Hampton said Dalton McGuinty is being irresponsible by ignoring warnings that Ontario is heading into a recession.

“As Ontario’s manufacturing crisis worsens, Dalton McGuinty continues to refuse to take action to sustain jobs and keep Ontario families working. How many more people have to lose their jobs before Dalton McGuinty starts doing something to stop the job losses? His inaction is reckless and irresponsible,” said Hampton.

Hampton was reacting to news today that an estimated 630 jobs will be lost in the southwestern Ontario communities of St. Marys and St. Thomas. In St. Marys, Dana Corp. issued layoff notices to about 350 workers. The plant makes frames for Ford's F-150 pickup, but lost the work to a parts plant in Kansas City. In St. Thomas, 280 jobs at the Therm-O-Disc plant are being lost. The Ohio-based company produces temperature control devices used in various household appliances

“This news will devastate the local economies of St. Thomas and St. Marys. And where’s Dalton McGuinty? He is in Hamilton claiming he ‘can't wave a magic wand’ to save jobs across the province. That kind of laissez-faire attitude is insulting to hard-working Ontarians. There are many things Dalton McGuinty can to do to protect well-paying Ontario manufacturing jobs,” said Hampton.

Hampton called on McGuinty to make revitalizing Ontario’s manufacturing and resource sectors his government’s top priority. He challenged the Premier to endorse the NDP’s job protection measures, including an industrial hydro rate, a refundable manufacturing investment tax credit, and a “Buy Ontario” transit purchasing policy.

”With the unemployment rate going up, job losses mounting and the economy plummeting, Dalton McGuinty needs to get off the sidelines and do something,” said Hampton.