NDP Leader Howard Hampton says hard working Ontarians are told to wait for everything from a livable minimum wage to affordable housing, while MPPs and senior civil servants on Dalton McGuinty’s “Sunshine” list are riding the Premier’s gravy train.

“The McGuinty government’s gravy train has left the station. MPPs are on it and senior civil servants are on it. Meanwhile, Ontario’s most vulnerable are left on the platform picking over some pretty thin gruel,” said Hampton.
Hampton noted that while those on minimum wage will see a meagre 75 cent pay increase today, the number of McGuinty bureaucrats earning over $100,000 jumped 24 per cent over last year and MPPs will be receiving their third pay increase in 16 months – totaling 35 per cent – effective tomorrow.

“Dalton McGuinty’s anti-poverty plan is about shortchanging the most vulnerable. He refuses to immediately end the clawback of the national child benefit, won’t commit to an immediate minimum wage increase that will lift hard working Ontarians out of poverty, and leaves those waiting for affordable housing languishing on a wait-list. However, McGuinty and his big-money buddies at the top of the heap get what they want, when they want it,” said Hampton.

Currently, there are 1.2 million Ontarians earning less than $10 per hour.

“How can the McGuinty Liberals sleep at night knowing that poor Ontarians are being left further and further behind while they fatten their own pocketbooks?” asked Hampton.