Sarnia-Lambton's Conservative MPP is applauding plans for a comparative cost assessment for new biochemical and petrochemical plants.
Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Growth wants construction and operating costs for new facilities in Sarnia analyzed and assessed against major chemical clusters in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West.
Bob Bailey says that's encouraging.
"Anything that will add to the biochemical and petrochemical facilities in Sarnia would be a major boost to our economy," says Bailey.
"For local employment it would create valuable opportunities for our local partners like the college, the union halls, the restaurants, the housing industry, everybody. I'm very confident that when the study is conducted it will show the Sarnia-Lambton area is the best place to do business and is the safest place for contractors and employees to work while building these facilities."
Bailey says Sarnia-Lambton has the finest skilled trades, contractors and engineering personnel in North America and any company looking to make a capital investment in the region recognizes that right off the bat.
He says the only thing holding the area back is the price of energy and he's worried this area's competitive advantage is being undermined by what he calls the liberal government's "ongoing mismanagement of the energy file."