Sudbury

Sault Ste. Marie 'can't measure the damage' PC's would do, Horwath says

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says a Progressive Conservative government will make life in northern Ontario less affordable. The comments come after United Steelworkers Local 2251 in Sault Ste. Marie said it will support Progressive Conservative candidate Ross Romano

Ford's tax cuts will 'make everyday families pay a lot more,' Horwath says

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath chats with a supporter at a rally in Guelph Monday afternoon. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

Andrea Horwath says Doug Ford is not good for the people of Sault Ste. Marie.

She made the comments Monday during a stop in Guelph when asked what she thought of United Steelworkers Local 2251 throwing its support behind Progressive Conservative candidate Ross Romano.

It's the first time the union has supported a candidate other than NDP since 1960.

Romano tweeted the "historic endorsement" shows "real working people realize they can't afford Wynne/NDP promises anymore."

But Horwath said it's actually the other way around.

Sault Ste. Marie Progressive Conservative candidate Ross Romano makes his pitch to the Steelworkers Local 2251 during the 2017 byelection. He lost that endorsement vote, but won the race for MPP. Romano then won the union's endorsement during the 2018 general election. (Erik White/CBC)

"What I hope that those folks recognize and realize is that Doug Ford's $18 tax break is not going to help you find affordable child care in Sault Ste. Marie. Doug Ford's tax cuts of $6 billion are not going to get rid of the huge backlog of long-term care wait lists that exist in Sault Ste. Marie," Horwath said.

She said in visits to the community, she has heard from people who are worried about their hydro bills, long wait lists for healthcare and the rising cost of child care.

"It's disappointing, frankly, that we have a situation where in such a working class community, folks have not seen a platform from Doug Ford and so perhaps can't measure the damage that Doug Ford is going to do but there is no doubt in my mind that Doug Ford's tax cuts for the rich are going to make everyday families pay a lot more," she said.

With files from Kate Bueckert