Press Releases 2003

Immediate Release

December 31, 2003

Four Promises Broken - More Than Two-Hundred and Thirty o Go  

                                         WHAT A WAY TO START 2004

(Richmond Hill)   After breaking promise after promise since the last provincial election

the Liberal government had a chance to start the New Year off on the right foot.  

They blew it.   Frank Klees, MPP for Oak Ridges and PC Transportation Critic responded

today to the 407 ETR's announcement that it will raise its toll rates effective February 1, 2004.

"This is unbelievable", said Klees .   "The new Liberal government's incompetence has

not only resulted in a trail of broken promises but now higher toll rates for 407 ETR users.

"Dalton McGuinty and his GTA candidates promised during the last election to roll back

407 ETR rates, even though they knew they couldn't do it unilaterally" said Klees.   "This is

setting a costly precedent.   The Liberals did the same thing when they promised to stop

development on the Oak Ridges Moraine.   They couldn't do that and they knew they couldn't

roll back the 407 ETR tolls, but the went ahead and promised it anyway". Added Klees.

Not only have they broken this promise but the Liberals are showing they also don't know how to read

contracts.   "The government is trying to enforce a provision in the contract that simply isn't

there," said Klees.   The Liberals are saying that 407 ETR is not authorized to establish tolls for

2004 without the prior agreement of the Government of Ontario.   "This just isn't the case," said Klees.

Klees notes that when he was Transportation Minister he had been negotiating in good faith and

reached an agreement with 407 ETR that would have resulted in substantial improvements to 407 ETR

users.   "Rather then continue the good working relationship the previous government had enjoyed with

the 407 ETR the Liberals have decided to take the people of Ontario down the inevitable path of

multi-million dollar lawsuits effecting, not only the users of the 407 ETR but every taxpayer in the

province".

The credibility deficit of this government is growing by the day". Notes Klees.   

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For more information, contact:

Frank Klees

Richmond Hill Office

905 707-3160

416 729 8999                                          

© 2008 Frank Klees, M.P.P. All Rights Reserved