THUNDER BAY, ON, - April, 4, 2008 -  Thanks to the actions of the McGuinty government, Ontario is the only provincial government to have a policy in place making Canadian Content a requirement for publicly funded mass transit purchases.  Additionally, the federal government does not now and has never had a policy in this regard.

If the NDP was serious about this issue, it would have appeared in their platform.

Our government has already invested tremendous amounts in mass transit contracts to the great benefit of our local plant and these investments will continue.

• $200 Million resulting in a $650 Million subway car contract for Bombardier
  $3 billion of the MoveOntario 2020 transit investment is estimated to be spent on transit vehicles – subway cars, commuter trains, light rail and buses.  Canadian Content rules will apply to this transit investment
• Mass transit investments and content requirements that have the potential to help bring more growth to our Bombardier plant to the benefit of our entire region are a top priority for Bill Mauro and the McGuinty government.

“I am pleased that my two Private Member’s Bills played a role in the establishment of Ontario’s first Canadian Content legislation,” stated Mauro.  “This legislation will give our local plant a competitive advantage which can only be seen as a positive to our region.”

“It is truly unfortunate that the NDP continues to insist that these Canadian Content requirements will not support Thunder Bay’s Bombardier plant,” continued Mauro.  “It is a disservice to the people of Thunder Bay, and particularly to Bombardier workers, to suggest that Canadian Content requirements do not enhance the potential to bring long term benefits to our area.”

The MoveOntario 2020 program has designated $17.5 Billion for more than 50 transit projects.  $3 Billion of this is estimated to be spent on transit vehicles under our new Canadian Content requirements.
The NDP have voted against investments in public transit, including the extension of the Spadina subway line to Vaughan. The NDP voted against giving the gas tax to cities for public transit.