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TIMMINS – An Ontario PC government would introduce formal resource revenue sharing to ensure Northern Ontario “receives fair benefits from Northern resources,” Doug Ford announced in Timmins on Tuesday.
The Progressive Conservative leader said $20 to $30 million would be returned to this part of the province every year, but didn’t provide an exact revenue percentage. Ford said money from mining, forestry and aggregates should stay in Northern Ontario.
“I believe in letting northerners keep their own money. Do what you want. Fix roads,” he said. “I believe in just letting them do what they want.” Ford said Northern Ontario communities, including Indigenous communities, would receive a portion of provincial revenues collected from aggregate licenses, stumpage fees and the mining tax.
“Your resources. Your benefits. I think that’s only fair,” said Ford. The Etobicoke-born businessman denied the generous promise was a ploy to buy votes when asked by reporters.
“No, I don’t do that. My name’s not Kathleen Wynne,” said Ford. “I don’t have to do that. My whole platform is for the people. For the people – reducing Hydro rates by 12% for the people, getting rid of the carbon tax to create good-paying jobs for the people, reducing taxes on business for the people, putting money back into the communities for the people to do what they want.”
Ford said the province can afford it.
A release from Timmins-James Bay NDP MPP Gilles Bisson earlier in the day said northerners wouldn’t “be fooled” by the PC’s leaders promises, stating Ford has promised more than $6 billion in cuts.
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