The people of Atlantic Canada deserve an apology from an Ontario Liberal MPP who said the region is an economic underperfomer with nothing to teach Ontario, Ontario NDP MPP Gilles Bisson says.

“Mario Racco attacking Maritimers and casting them as a defeatist backwater where there is no industry and no jobs is arrogant, insulting and just plain wrong,” said Bisson, the MPP for the riding of Timmins-James Bay and the Ontario NDP′s Gas Price Critic.

“Dalton McGuinty should demand an apology from Mr. Racco. If Mr. Racco refuses, the premier should strip him of his parliamentary assistant′s job because someone who insults Ontario′s friends in the Maritimes has no place in government,” he said.

McGuinty is in the Maritimes to meet with New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord and Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns today and Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams tomorrow.

Last week, Liberal MPP Mario Racco (Thornhill) questioned Bisson′s plan for gas price regulation and fair, stable and predictable gas prices in Ontario by saying the Maritime provinces – which regulate gas prices - have no industry and no jobs.

"Tell me something, what's the economic status of the Maritimes? Are they 'have' provinces or 'have-not' provinces? How is their economy doing? Why is it that Ontario has been doing much better than them?" Racco said. "The past performance would suggest to me their (the Maritime provinces') approach hasn't been as effective as it has been in Ontario. Why would we rely on their system?"

Bisson said those comments are unbecoming of someone in government.

“Mr. Racco′s comments remind me of Stephen Harper saying the Maritimes have a ‘culture of defeat.′ It′s a silly, senseless and insulting statement that reinforces a negative stereotype of Maritimers that just isn′t true,” Bisson said.

“This is about Dalton McGuinty and his standards. If he thinks what Mr. Racco said is unacceptable, he should demand an apology. If Mr. Racco won′t apologize, Mr. McGuinty should fire him from his government job,” the Ontario NDP MPP said.