Dalton McGuinty says Hudak was against Eastern Ontario Development Fund

Ontario Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty spoke at a rally in Cornwall Ontario on Saturday October 1st in front of well over 200 supporters. McGuinty's campaign stop was in support of SDSG Liberal Provincial Candidate Mark A MacDonald. McGuinty got off the campaign bus and was greeted by MacDonald.

PHOTO CREDIT - Jason Setnyk, OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Oct. 2, 2011 - Ontario Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty spoke at a rally in Cornwall Ontario on Saturday October 1st in front of well over 200 supporters. McGuinty's campaign stop was in support of SDSG Liberal Provincial Candidate Mark A MacDonald. McGuinty got off the campaign bus and was greeted by MacDonald. The two shook hands and entered Mark's campaign headquarters.

In attendance was former Federal Liberal MP and current Cornwall Mayor Bob Kilger, as well as former Liberal candidates Bernadette Clement, Tom Manley, and Denis Sabourin. City Councillor Andre Rivette was also in attendance. Kilger spoke favourably about MacDonald, despite the fact they were political opponents just a year ago when the two had a heated race for Mayor.

McGuinty's speech focused on infrastructure, a green economy, and health care. "We will invest in infrastructure. That's roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, public transit, and we're also re-building our electricity system. It improves our quality of life, and creates tens of thousands of jobs."

McGuinty has a vision of making Ontario a leader in green energy and technology. "Are we going to follow or are we going to lead? We are going to lead! We're going to make Ontario the best place in the world to build renewable technologies, solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars, and all the jobs, and job opportunities, for our children and our grand children".

McGuinty also told the crowd that Ontario voters want someone who will stand-up for them. "Remember when we set up our Eastern Ontario Development Fund, to bring money into this region to attract new jobs and investment? Tim Hudak said to these families that are a part of this province, you're on your own". The red crowd in attendance shouted, "shame!".

McGuinty also said he is the only one who can stand-up to Prime Minister Stephen Harper over the renewal of Federal-Provincial transfers for health care. "The problem that they have with me, is I don’t fit that job description," McGuinty say's he will speak-up and fight for Ontarians.

"It’s no secret, if they have their choice, they’d like to have an Ontario premier who will do as he’s told." According to McGuinty that is why Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty supports PC leader Tim Hudak, because he would do what he is told.

Dalton McGuinty also answered questions from the local press. McGuinty said is not worried about a popular NDP candidate in SDSG, and he is confident Mark MacDonald will be victories. The

Premier is also confident the Liberals will form government again. He would not speculate on whether it would be a majority or minority government, however he stated he is always ready to work with other people to get the job done.

Local reporter Jason Setnyk asked Premier McGuinty, “In the mid 90s provincial funding to libraries was cut by 40%. Libraries support many of the aims of the current government such as economic development and education. What would your government due to better financially support our libraries?”

In response McGuinty's discussed growing up in a house with over a thousand books, the growing use of technology in libraries, and he concluded with, “We will continue to support libraries in Ontario”, but he gave no specifics on how his government would do so.