TORONTO -- About two dozen road signs declaring Ontario open for business, which will cost taxpayers more than $106,000, are "a cheesy exercise in sloganeering" that will do little to help the people of the province, the Opposition said Friday.
The Progressive Conservative government said the 25 blue-and-white signs that read "Welcome to Ontario. Open for Business" would be installed at 18 locations near the U.S.-Canada border crossings.
Premier Doug Ford unveiled the first sign Friday morning beneath the Blue Water Bridge, the country's second-busiest commercial border crossing, near Sarnia, Ont.
"That is nice," Ford said. "That is a quality sign."
After the announcement, Ford's office said the signs were necessary to show the world that Ontario is open for business. The majority of the signs will be created by upgrading signs that are already in place, but four will be put in areas where new placards need to be built. The cost to build those new signs is $32,000.
Ford first came up with the idea during the spring election campaign, saying it was a way to encourage economic development. At the time, he said he'd have a large neon sign at the border to help drive investment to Ontario.
Ontario NDP legislator Taras Natyshak said the cost of the signs likely doesn't take into account maintenance, which means the cost could increase over time.
"People in Ontario will see this as nothing more than a cheesy exercise in sloganeering," he said. "I'm sure they would much rather see those dollars invested in local infrastructure and supports for education or small business."
Liberal legislator Michael Coteau said despite the premier's claims, the signs won't do anything to help improve economic development in the province.
"It's hard to believe that the government would make such a big deal over 18 signs," he said. "When you dig a little deeper there's nothing there, there's no plan...If 18 signs are his economic development strategy we're in some pretty big trouble."
