QUEEN'S PARK - Tim Hudak, MPP for Erie-Lincoln, called on Premier Dalton McGuinty again today to explain a $50-million grant the Liberal government gave to Magna International Inc. - one of Canada's richest corporations.

Hudak first raised the issue at Queen's Park yesterday, asking the Premier to explain the grant and whether he can guarantee the $50 million, to be used to build the Stronach Centre facility - will pay off in additional manufacturing jobs. Hudak reiterated his point in a letter to Premier McGuinty today.

"Premier, as you know, Magna isn't exactly crying poor these days, contemplating a $3.5-billion bid to purchase Chrysler the day after you announced their $50 million grant," Hudak said. "But there are plenty of people suffering through tough times in Dalton McGuinty's Ontario, like Ontario grape growers... The budget did not designate a single dime for grape growers, tender fruit growers or apple growers for their replant program."

Hudak called on McGuinty to explain to Ontario taxpayers how he can justify cutting this year's agriculture budget while handing over $50 million to a corporation whose CEO earned more than $40 million in 2005.

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Contact: Tim Hudak, MPP

Hudak's April 19 letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty:

Dear Premier McGuinty,

I am writing to follow up on the question I asked you yesterday in the House regarding your $50-million grant to Magna International, and also to echo the sentiments of Ontario farmers, seniors, and middle-income earners who justifiably feel they were shut out of your recent budget.

As I said yesterday, seniors and working families are increasingly finding it difficult to make ends meet in Dalton McGuinty's Ontario. Seniors and working families received nothing in the budget, yet you found room for a $50-million gift to Magna - one of Canada's wealthiest corporations - to build the Stronach Centre, a training facility for Magna employees with no guarantee that the investment will result in a single additional manufacturing job.

Premier, as you know, Magna isn't exactly crying poor these days, contemplating a $3.5-billion bid to purchase Chrysler the day after you announced their $50 million grant. But there are plenty of people suffering through tough times in Dalton McGuinty's Ontario, like Ontario grape growers, who will face tremendous challenges to find a market for their crops when the Cadbury-Schweppes plant closes in June. The budget did not designate a single dime for grape growers, tender fruit growers or apple growers for their replant program.

I hope Magna will change its plans and accept students from outside its own corporation to learn at the new training centre, because if these conditions are allowed to continue, many Ontario grape growers, tender fruit growers and beekeepers will be looking for a new line of work.

The closure of the market for Niagara juice grapes and the decolonization of beehives in Niagara will be the first tests of your greenbelt legislation. If you are truly committed to the greenbelt, you will earmark funds to help farmers, tourist operators and municipalities who operate within it.

Premier, I respectfully request that you explain to Ontario grape, tender fruit and apple growers, beekeepers and other taxpayers how you can justify cutting this year's agriculture budget while handing over $50 million to a corporation whose CEO earned more than $40 million in 2005.

In closing, please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudak, MPP for Erie-Lincoln