NDP MPP Gilles Bisson says Dalton McGuinty is abdicating his responsibility by allowing decisions about the future of Ontario’s battered economy, including the crucial auto sector, to be made elsewhere.

Bisson was reacting to news that at least 50,000 jobs will be cut worldwide at General Motors and Chrysler as part of the restructuring plans they submitted to the American government. Both companies have significant Ontario operations.

“As an economic tsunami is flattening community after community, the McGuinty government is allowing decisions about Ontario’s economic future to be made in Washington, Detroit and Ottawa. This is a complete abdication of responsibility and a lack of leadership, plain and simple. Where is the plan to save Ontario’s auto sector, which is critical to our overall economy?” Bisson asked.

Bisson noted that the McGuinty government had plenty of warning about the economic storm that was about to hit Ontario. The government could have – and should have – had a detailed jobs plan in place long before now.

New Democrats have been advocating a five-point jobs stimulus plan. The plan calls for funding of shovel-ready municipal infrastructure projects, introducing job protecting measures such as a manufacturing investment tax credit and industrial hydro rate, creating a “Buy Ontario” program for all government purchasing, immediately increasing the minimum wage to $10.25 per hour, and developing a made-in-Ontario, made-for-Ontario auto sector strategy.

“With Ontario’s economic future at stake, McGuinty’s refusal to take the bold action needed to protect jobs and communities is indicative that he still has no plan to deal with our growing jobs crisis,” said Bisson.