NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says Dalton McGuinty isn’t committed to public transit with his government’s continued refusal to fund its one-third share of the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) new streetcar contract.

Horwath spoke out at a press conference this afternoon, where she was joined by Dominic Pasqualino, a worker at Bombardier’s Thunder Bay streetcar assembly plant, and Steve Munro, one of Toronto’s leading public transit advocates.

“It’s time to end the games. It’s time to fund these much-needed, made-in-Ontario streetcars,” said Horwath.

“Dalton McGuinty either supports public transit or he doesn’t. The streetcars will sustain jobs at the assembly plant in Thunder Bay and at parts plants elsewhere. They will make it easier for commuters to get around Toronto. And they will get more people out of their cars and onto transit, helping Ontario meet our climate change objectives. In short, these streetcars are good for the economy and they are good for the environment.”

Horwath noted that the McGuinty government’s funding refusal on the $1.3-billion streetcar contract has left hundreds of workers like Pasqualino in limbo.

“The streetcar contract couldn’t have come at a better time. Ontario has seen the recent exodus of hundreds of thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs. Thunder Bay has been hit particularly hard. This contract represents new hope for Bombardier workers, their families and an entire community,” she said.

Horwath added that Toronto commuters are also left wondering whether they will ever see the new streetcars.

“Up to three million commuters rely on the TTC. Given what’s at stake, Ontario cannot afford to watch this deal get derailed by cheap political shenanigans. Fund the streetcars and fund them now!”