– Ontario’s manufacturing recession has claimed another 720 jobs while Dalton McGuinty continues to refuse to use tools to stem the job losses, charges NDP Leader Howard Hampton.

“The job losses at Sterling Truck are devastating for St. Thomas. The community is being punished economically while the McGuinty government remains stuck in neutral, refusing to use the tools at its disposal to save some of these jobs,” said Hampton.

Earlier today, it was reported Sterling Trucks is eliminating one of its two remaining shifts and laying off another 720 workers, bringing to more than 1,300 the number of workers the company has laid off at its St. Thomas plant.

”These high-paying auto industry jobs are the bedrock of the economy in communities across Ontario. For every auto job lost, another seven jobs disappear. The spin-off is enormous in a community like St. Thomas. These job losses add to the more than 210,000 manufacturing jobs that have been lost in Ontario under the McGuinty government’s watch,” said Hampton.

Hampton said Ontario is losing its manufacturing jobs to jurisdictions with policies that encourage investment and job creation – policies such as a refundable manufacturing investment tax credit.

“While we lose manufacturing jobs, other provinces – like Manitoba – have a growing manufacturing sector. That’s because they’ve implemented policies like a manufacturing tax credit, ‘buy local’ programs, and an industrial hydro rate. Here in Ontario, Dalton McGuinty remains stuck in neutral while the jobs continue to vanish,” said Hampton