LONDON, ON -- Creating jobs is Job 1 for Tim Hudak, the PC Party leader said Wednesday after a roundtable session with the chamber of commerce here.

Hudak said missing from the Liberal government's budget is "any plan to get our economy firing again and create jobs.
"I'm going to go out and listen and share my own ideas, because I want to see Ontario as the leader again in Canada, not as a have-not (province).

"Here in southwestern Ontario, the lack of a jobs plan is a major problem we need to address."

As Hudak met with chamber officials, a Liberal Party caucus operative distributed a news release quoting Liberal MPP Chris Bentley, who said his party is "the only party with a plan to balance the budget, grow the economy and create jobs."

Hudak said he's taking his "For Jobs and Our Economy Tour" across the province. He was in Brampton and London Wednesday and will be in Kingsville and Waterloo Thursday.

He said his government would cancel costly contracts with suppliers of electricity generated by wind turbines and solar panels. The experience in Europe shows costly subsidies for alternative power lead to the loss of jobs, Hudak said.

The PC leader laughed when it was suggested cancelling the contracts would provide new jobs for lawyers.

Hudak said his party will vote against the Liberal budget when it's put to the legislature later this month -- a move that could trigger an election.

Gerry Macartney, manager of the London chamber, said Hudak's visit was his fourth in recent times.

"I thought he really did listen," Macartney said.
Hudak's plan to push for the reduction in the corporate tax rate to 10% from 11.5% immediately was well received, he said.