NDP Leader Howard Hampton said today that Dalton McGuinty’s latest budget fails Windsor by the complete absence of any commitment to improve Windsor’s border infrastructure.

Hampton’s comments came as part of his speech in the Ontario Legislature on an opposition day motion introduced by the NDP. The motion read:

“That, in the opinion of this House, the 2007 Ontario budget fails to address the pressing need for border infrastructure in the Windsor Region, and; That in the opinion of this house, the McGuinty Government must immediately commit to funding the Windsor-Detroit corridor infrastructure including tunneled access to the next border crossing and guarantee that there will be no toll roads.”

“When it comes to Windsor and the serious economic crises that it is facing, the McGuinty Liberals were completely absent in their most recent budget,” Hampton said. “Dalton McGuinty had a perfect opportunity to set aside money for Windsor’s desperately needed border infrastructure, infrastructure that would give Windsor a much needed economic boost in light of current difficulties with Windsor’s auto industry. The budget did nothing to provide any meaningful assistance to keep factories and plants running and hard-working women and men working.”

When the budget was tabled a Windsor Star editorial said "It's about time that Dwight Duncan and Sandra Pupatello showed finance minister Greg Sorbara a map of Ontario that includes the city of Windsor. If they can still remember where Windsor is, of course, because it is hardly to be found in Ontario's budget."

“Dalton McGuinty’s failed economic policies have cost Ontario 140,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs – but the premier isn’t doing anything about it except give himself a $40,000 raise. He has ignored Windsor and its needs and the NDP is ready to step up to the plate for Windsor,” he said.