NDP Leader Howard Hampton today urged the McGuinty government to ensure that their proposed Green Energy Act stimulates green manufacturing jobs in Ontario by committing to a minimum 60 per cent Ontario content for green energy inputs.

“The NDP is a strong supporter of green energy jobs, but without a strong ‘Buy Ontario’ component, green energy manufacturing jobs will be created in Europe and the U.S., not in Ontario,” said Hampton.

Quebec has long required a 60 per cent domestic content in all its renewable energy projects. As a result, Quebec is home to AAER Inc., Canada's only manufacturer of large wind turbines.

Hampton also criticized the McGuinty government for failing to make public minimum targets for new renewable power in Ontario.

“Nowhere in the Act is there any mention of targets that would guarantee that new projects are actually developed and real jobs actually created,” said Hampton.

“The McGuinty government has targets for expanding expensive, dirty, and unreliable nuclear power, but refuses to set targets in the Act for clean, green renewable energy. This proves that the McGuinty government’s real green plan is to go nuclear."