Talking Points
Clear communication for a Good Jobs Budget
Talking points for people and communities, February 2010
The following points, and the FAQ page, are designed to help you talk to friends, family members, neighbours, and reporters about the Good Jobs Budget all Ontario communities need.
Good jobs are the top priority: The Ontario government’s number one priority between now and the next election must be to preserve and create good jobs, not cut the deficit.
Good jobs will tackle the deficit: Paying down the deficit won’t create good jobs, but creating good jobs will pay down the deficit. Creating good permanent jobs and getting people back to work will help the government’s bottom line in a sustainable way.
Don’t undercut the stimulus: Ontarians depend on public services – especially in tough economic times. If we are spending billions on infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs, it doesn’t make sense to cut billions out of public services at the same time. Cutting public services can only undermine the good effects of the government’s economic stimulus program.
Communities need good jobs: Our communities need good jobs so people can live decently, bring their children up properly, and retire with dignity.
Good jobs are good for business: Local businesses do better when people have good jobs and income to spend.
Invest in infrastructure and green jobs: Investment in infrastructure, green jobs and a “Buy Ontario/Buy Canadian” plan must be central to any good jobs strategy. And we need government to make a serious commitment in the budget to education and training, including re-training of workers who have lost their jobs
Public spending in Ontario is low: Ontario has the second-lowest program spending of any province or territory in Canada.
Don’t sell our assets: Selling off profitable public assets like the LCBO or Hydro One throws away future income in exchange for a one-time gain. Losing that income doesn’t save us money, it costs us money.
Job creation, not tax cuts: Cutting corporate income tax rates won’t create good jobs. Ontario’s tax rates are already on a par with those of our U.S. competitors, so companies won’t invest there instead of here on the basis of tax rates. Also, corporate tax cuts provide little economic stimulus because companies mostly use the money to pay down debt, give bonuses to executives, or increase the profits they send to head offices outside Canada. Untargeted corporate tax cuts also go to companies that are sending jobs outside of Ontario. We can’t afford tax cuts that don’t guarantee new investment.
Help workers trying to make ends meet on part-time, temporary jobs: More and more Ontario workers now have part-time, temporary, or temp agency jobs that don’t give them the income they need to live decently, bring their kids up properly, or retire with dignity. For people who are struggling in these kinds of jobs, better employment standards, and better enforcement of existing standards, can protect their incomes.
What kind of Ontario do we want? This budget is really about what kind of Ontario we want to live in. Do we want a province with good jobs and strong public services, or do we want deteriorating services and more part-time, temporary, low-wage jobs that people can’t afford to live on?
Loading ...