NDP MPP Gilles Bisson today slammed Dalton McGuinty’s government for continuing to “Sell-Out” Ontario while ignoring the Toronto Transit Commission’s request for stronger local content legislation for mass transit vehicles.

“Last week, the McGuinty Liberals voted down my ‘Buy Ontario’ bill calling for 50 per cent local content for mass transit vehicles. Then, under the cloak of the Easter long weekend, the government announced a watered-down ‘Sell- Out’ Ontario 25 per cent local content plan, claiming it was following the TTC’s lead,” said Bisson.

“Yesterday, TTC commissioners passed a motion calling on the McGuinty government to come forward with a much higher local content requirement for Ontario transit purchases. Yet, this government now chooses to ignore the TTC, further jeopardizing thousands of Ontario transit manufacturing jobs. With 200,000 manufacturing jobs already lost, I’m stunned by Dalton McGuinty’s refusal to admit that he is wrong,” added Bisson.

In response to last week’s government announcement, the TTC – including councillors with Liberal party ties – unanimously passed the following motion:

"That the TTC clarify its position that the 25 per cent Canadian content applies to the first phase of the LRT purchase, and further that the Chair and Mayor be requested to urge the Government of Ontario to set a higher requirement for transit purchases in Ontario."

“Clearly, TTC commissioners understand the importance of protecting local manufacturing jobs. It’s high time Dalton McGuinty did the same, took his head out of the sand and offered support for the NDP’s 50 per cent ‘Buy Ontario’. To do anything else, would be to sell-out hard-hit workers and communities,” said Bisson.