Wynne pledges more business for municipalities

Premier Kathleen Wynne promises her minority Liberal government will do more to help municipalities lure business.

“We want to cut red tape to attract investment across the province and create new jobs in your communities,” Wynne told the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa on Monday.

“To that end . . . we’re moving forward with the ‘Investment Ready Program.’ It is Canada’s first province-wide certified site program.

“It shows companies around the world the places in your municipalities that are ready to be developed, giving them some certainty about environmental concerns, utility lines, servicing access.

“It means businesses can quickly make more informed decisions and help expansion projects get under way sooner. For municipalities, it provides another tool to promote your communities, attract new investment and foster growth. It does that upfront work that’s so critical.”

Wynne said the program, which will kick off later this year, should lead to faster site-selection decisions, which will get “greenfield” or expansion projects up and running more quickly. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, who addressed conference delegates Monday, as did NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, blasted the premier for failing to spark job creation.

“There aren’t enough jobs and the province is spending money it simply doesn’t have. We have 600,000 men and women who started this week looking for a job,” said Hudak.

“Now, I don’t believe that government can create jobs. Let me be clear about that. That’s not me. But we can certainly remove the barriers to clear the way for job creation,” he said, promising to “lower taxes on businesses and manufacturers so that they’re willing to invest and create jobs in Ontario.”

Hudak, lamenting the Liberals’ $11.7-billion deficit, said only a change in government would cure what ails the province after a decade of Liberal rule.

Horwath indicated the NDP, which averted an election by supporting last spring’s budget, would continue to play a constructive role.