McGuinty pledges help for jobless workers
Last Updated: Friday, February 29, 2008 | 8:19 AM ET
The Canadian Press
Premier Dalton McGuinty said his government will be doing more in the weeks ahead to help laid-off workers retrain for new jobs.
He told a Toronto fundraiser Thursday night that it will be worth it for the province to help people learn new, sophisticated skills to better their chances of finding a job. He said more details will emerge in next month's budget.
Ontario has lost about 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2004.
McGuinty also said cutting business taxes will stimulate growth in the province.
He was defending his government's strategy for tackling the province's economic woes after attacks from federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
Flaherty wants Ontario to deeply slash taxes to attract investment.
The Liberals had been looking for Ottawa to spend some of its $13 billion surplus on struggling Ontario manufacturers.
The Conservatives pledged $250 million over five years to support research and development for the auto sector.
McGuinty said the province has budgeted billions of dollars for building and fixing schools, hospitals, roads, public transit and energy and that will create more jobs.
