Mr. Speaker, if there is one rule that I have probably heard more often than not in this place, it is that for every complex problem there is a simple solution, and it is wrong.
Cutting taxes, the linear move of just cutting taxes, is not going to address the problem we have in Ontario. That is a fact. Ontario has lost 100,000 jobs since January 2006 and another 20,000 in the current year. In addition to that, there have been sales drops in manufacturing, one in the year 2007 of 3.4%. These are the lowest levels in three years.
It seems to me that there are things that are going to be necessary. Tax cuts do not help companies that do not make a profit, which is taxable income on which they have to pay taxes.
This is something that takes a little bit longer, but in terms of addressing the real problem, it seems to me that there has to be some spending in the areas of labour, employment, immigration, and retraining and education services, to help people cope with the fact that they are losing their jobs. The businesses providing those jobs continue to struggle.
Tax cuts do not mean anything to businesses that do not pay taxes. When is the member going to realize that we need a real strategy to address the seriousness of the situation in Ontario?