QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario's Progressive Conservative government has issued a statement explaining why it voted down Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle's bill on mass transit.
Gravelle wanted the province to require at least 60 per cent Canadian content for any purchase of mass transit vehicles by an Ontario public company.
He argued this would help companies such as Bombardier at a time when the U.S. and other countries are imposing similar domestic content requirements.
The NDP and Gravelle's Liberal colleagues voted in favour, but the government used its majority on Thursday afternoon to stop his private member's bill in its tracks.
The office of Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney provided Tbnewswatch with a brief statement explaining that the government believes protectionist policies are ultimately harmful rather than helpful.
The government, it said, "has consistently shown leadership in opposing protectionist policies of other governments that hurt workers in Thunder Bay and across Ontario."
It said open and competitive contracting benefits taxpayers, businesses and the economy, and that Ontario's rail procurements, in any case, "must align with international trade commitments."
The statement said "historic" transit investments have been approved in the Toronto and Ottawa areas, and that this week's Toronto city council decision to support the province's transit "is great news for Ontario," as Toronto may now be able to spend more than $5 billion upgrading the city's mass transit system.
"That means real opportunity for Ontario workers," it concluded.
