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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, December 9, 2011 · 4 Report contains some good advice Continued from page 1 the province's move away from coal, which he said is at the point where residents no longer see smog days. This, Flynn said, is also leading to a decline in asthma rates. "The advice of the auditor general as to how we might proceed in the future with green energy projects is something we can all pay attention to, but it is not going to deter us from doing what we think Ontarians want us to," he said. "That means implementing programs that will provide a clean and affordable source of energy with no ill health effects resulting from power generation." On the auditor's finding that Ontarians pay significantly more for auto insurance than other Canadians, Flynn said the Province has been able to stabilize these traditionally high rates and said he would put his government's auto insurance track record up against the two previous governments' records where insurance rates skyrocketed. Flynn agrees with the auditor's findings that Ontarians are paying too much for alcohol, stating while Ontario alcohol prices are the lowest in Canada, the LCBO should use its massive buying power to negotiate lower wholesale prices. Overall, Flynn said he sees the auditor general's report as a public letter from management, which sheds light on the operations of the provincial government and suggests how those operations can be improved. "I'm proud of that. We really thank the auditor general for his report. We think he's come forward with some good ideas," said Flynn. "Any one of the ministers I've talked to since the report came out is very appreciative of the advice and fully intends to move on it." With its past actions evaluated, the Province is now looking to its future, outlined in the Throne Speech, which was delivered Wednesday. The Throne Speech offered key government priorities including: · Providing a grant to reduce undergraduate college and university tuition by an average of 30 per cent for families earning less than $160,000 per year. · Selecting three new sites for undergraduate campuses to build a more competitive workforce. · Introducing the proposed Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit to help seniors live independently longer, and create and support thousands of jobs in the home renovation sector. · Increasing home care services so seniors can receive quality care and live healthier lives in their own homes. · Adding two-way, all-day GO train service to keep people moving in the GTA and Greater Golden Horseshoe area and create 68,000 new jobs. · Reaffirming the goal to return the province's budget to balance by 2017­18 to ensure the fiscal framework is in place to support a strong economy. "The Throne Speech, I think, set out a good direction for us. It received the support of one of the opposition parties, which I think is a good sign of things to come, that we are capable of working together," said Flynn. "We do realize we are going to have to adapt to the changing economic times out there right now and we are still determined to come out of these economic tough times stronger than when we went in. I think the reliance on the economy and on jobs as major issues that are going to drive our agenda sets a good tone. We are going to continue to invest in education and we are going continue to invest in healthcare and not privatize it and we are not going to introduce any initiatives to the political agenda that are going to have a negative impact on the economy." Flynn said the Province has no intention of raising taxes on businesses. `We were right' By Tim Kelly METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh would rather be in power than be right. But with Auditor General Jim McCarter's annual report blasting everything from the Liberal government's green energy policies to auto insurance premium gouging, the veteran Progressive Conservative politician couldn't resist taking a few shots this week. "I guess it's nice to know we were right, TED CHUDLEIGH which we knew at the time (during the recent provincial election). "We didn't seem to be able to get the Ontario public to understand this green-energy program was going to cost them a tremendous amount of money. It's going to cost a tremendous amount of jobs and it's ongoing. The government doesn't look like it's going to change its mind on it." Chudleigh was referring to the auditor general's criticism of the green-energy plan and that inflated prices for solar energy contracts to producers at 80 cents per kilowatt would cost taxpayers $220 million a year and cost jobs in the long run. It was a much ballyhooed program by Premier Dalton McGuinty during the election campaign and much criticized by Opposition Leader Tim Hudak and the PCs. Chudleigh would also like government action on auto insurance. "It's not rocket science. The fraud that is going on in the auto insurance is just unbelievable. It's a billion, a billion and a half dollars a year that's being sucked out," said Chudleigh. He describes a situation that is a catch-22, saying the government is letting it happen and in the end Ontario drivers are left with the highest rates despite being the safest drivers. DECEMBER 10 NO TAX ONE DAY ONLY What's ' better than the best super-automatic espresso machines in the e world? The best Super-automatic espresso machines in the world, tax free. Join us on Saturday December 10th fo f r our Jura Sales Event where we e pay the tax on all Jura Coffe ff e Centres. 315 Steeles Ave E. 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