FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2025
QUEEN’S PARK— Bonnie Crombie, Leader of Ontario’s Liberals, is again sounding the alarm as Ontario’s latest job numbers reveal that Ontario’s unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in a decade.
“Doug Ford is letting Ontario families down by spending his time focused on calling a snap election a year and a half early. His only priority is keeping his job, while Ontario workers lose theirs” said Crombie. “Under Doug Ford, Ontario has gone from driving Canada’s economy to falling far behind other provinces. As Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia create more opportunity for people, Ontario is being left behind.”
Important segments of our economy are particularly hard hit. Ontario has lost 14,000 construction jobs, and 17,300 manufacturing jobs in the last 12 months. Unemployment has risen to 7.5%, the highest it’s been in a decade and Ontario’s youth unemployment is the highest in the country, leaving many young people in our province without opportunities or a clear future. It’s no wonder so many of our young people are moving to other provinces.
“With Trump’s tariffs looming, your Premier should be doing something to ensure the people of Ontario are going to be OK. It’s about getting the basics right so our people and our economy are strong and prepared. It is risky and reckless to throw Ontarians into an election we don’t need and no one wants.
Doug Ford is desperate to get ahead of the RCMP investigation into his government that will show exactly how corrupt this administration is. Now he wants to call an election at a cost of $175 million to the Ontario taxpayer on top of the billions of your tax dollars he’s already wasted on bad deals and handouts to his friends.”
Crombie outlined her vision for a better future: “Unlike Ford, I will deliver more for you. We’ll lower your taxes, cut your hydro and heating bills, get you a family doctor and build more homes you can afford. It’s time to get the basics right for the people of Ontario and make sure we are creating the jobs that will protect our province and our people.”