INTRODUCTION

Thank you for that kind introduction Cheri/Peter (Tabuns)]. And thank you for that warm welcome.

Thank you – everyone – for coming here to the Leader’s Election Dinner. In case you haven’t heard – as of yesterday we are in an election campaign.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton put people before pay hikes today by donating part of his MPP pay raise to a charity.

In an event this morning, the Kenora-Rainy River MPP was at the National Office of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union to hand over a $1000 donation to the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada, a charity that CEP is partnered with.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton today made the following remarks regarding Nickel Belt MPP Shelley Martel’s announcement that she will not seek
re-election in the upcoming provincial election.

“It is an honour and privilege to be here today in Sudbury to pay tribute to Shelley Martel. As MPP for Sudbury East and Nickel Belt, as a cabinet minister and as a caucus critic, Shelley has shown that she's a champion for her community, a tireless advocate for her constituents and a true friend to ordinary working families.

Nickel Belt MPP Shelley Martel announced today that she won’t be running for re-election. After 20 years in the Ontario Legislature, Martel has decided to retire from electoral politics to pursue new interests and spend more time with her family.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton today welcomed an Auditor General investigation into Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal slush fund – and urged McGuinty’s beleaguered Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to step aside until the investigation is complete.

NDP MPP Michael Prue demanded the McGuinty Liberals explain why grants were given to Liberal-friendly multicultural organizations without following procedure or an application form.

“Multicultural organizations across Ontario are desperate for funding and the McGuinty Liberals gave a huge sum of cash to a Liberal-friendly organizations – with no due diligence – no process – no criteria – no way other groups could apply – no transparency – and no accountability,” said Prue.