PC Leader Tim Hudak says his plan will create jobs, won’t haggle over numbers

Tim Hudak

TORONTO — Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says he doesn’t want to haggle over exactly how many jobs his so-called “Million Jobs Plan” will create, but he stands by the math behind his key promise.

Pressed again on what will likely be a focus of Tuesday’s leaders’ debate, Hudak says “the bottom line is, it’s going to create jobs.”

The governing Liberals say Hudak should admit the promise to create a million jobs over eight years — while cutting 10 per cent of the public service — is a fantasy.

They’ve urged him to find one independent economist to back up his numbers, or revise his plan before the televised debate.

The Liberals and the New Democrats have also sounded the alarm over the Tories’ pledge to cut 100,000 public sector jobs, saying it would compromise core services such as health care and education.

Hudak says he’s confident he can fulfil his million-jobs promise, despite some economists suggesting he confused the term “person years of employment” with permanent jobs.

“I stand behind my plan. It’s going to create jobs,” he said during a campaign stop at a downtown Toronto construction project.

“We can have a great argument over whether it’s going to create 80,000, 100,000, 120,000 or 150,000 jobs, the bottom line is, it’s going to create jobs,” he said.

“Will lowering taxes on job creators create more jobs? Absolutely. Will more affordable energy for families and industry create more jobs? One hundred per cent sure. Will less red tape help small businesses create more jobs? You’re darn right. You add that up, that’s over a million jobs, when you add all of that up.”