[sthompson]

<strong>Written By:</strong> sthompson
<strong>Date:</strong> 2003-10-03 08:30:24
<a href="/article/83024191-mcguinty-takes-ontario">Article Link</a>

Well, there are some things to be happy about, whether or not you necessarily support the Liberals. For one, McGuinty campaigned on a platform of prioritizing health care and education over tax cuts for big corporations. <p> More importantly, <a href="http://weblog.flora.ca/article.php3?story_id=71">Fair Vote Canada recommended McGuinty</a> because of his pledge to hold a binding provincial referendum on what voting system would be used in future provincial elections--paving the way for the possible use of a form of proportional representation, something both conservatives and leftists can agree is a major step forward. <p> Finally, the <i>National Post</i> doesn't like his <a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/national/story.html?id=FA78387E-E7EA-4BB3-A7CF-C7EF8E65F683">economic policies</a>, which can only recommend them. <p> As for the NDP--they unfortunately <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031002.whamp1002_3/BNStory/Front">didn't win enough seats to even retain official party status</a>--despite the fact that they actually won 2.6% more or the vote than last time.

[Guest]

Mcguinty won 72 of 103 seats, with only 46% of the vote. I feel sorry for the NDP. The Liberals mimicked Howard Hampton, and his excellent platform, except for his tax increases, which are THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR THE PROMISES!!! Hampton outclassed the other 2 leaders in both the \'99 and 2003 leaders debates, and didn\'t deserve this.

We\'ll see if the Liberals bring in fixed election dates, and proportional representation after such a huge majority. It will be a successful term, even if that\'s all they do. That being said, this proves Ontarians don\'t vote FOR anything, but against something. That\'s why Bob Rae\'s NDP won in 1990.


*** Also of note, the Green Party of Ontario (under Frank de Yong) ran candidates in 102 of 103 ridings, but weren\'t allowed to debate.....humbug!

[Guest]

PR would be bad for Ontario, producing coalitions run by marginal groups like the NDP.

The Greens should be heard in debate.

[Roy_Whyte]

Now lets see if Klein and Campbell stand up and take notice...

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If there was ever a time for Canadians to become pushy - now is the time - for time is running out on this nation called Canada.

[Dave Ruston]

Yes, I agree, Hampton outclassed McGuinty and Eves. I thought the NDP platform of public power, public healthcare, reduced tuition and public auto insurance was the best platform! I don`t trust McGuinty. I think he can be influenced by Bay Street, but we`ll see. Yes, it was not fair to prevent the Green Party from debating. I like their platform too! But I e-mailed Eves last night and said,\" Goodbye corporate fascists!\"

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Dave Ruston

[Guest]

Yes this is good news for Ontario and really good news for Canada, he wants to get rid of private hospitals, improve schools etc. check out the other news story on this for details of changes. Oh can we get someone like this in Alberta, please please please
Read this article
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do? ... ID=1425228

[Guest]

The NDP is not a marginal group, you bonehead. They held a majority government just 8 years ago. Everywhere PR has been tried, it was worked to improve democracy. Think about it, if the conservatives had supported PR, they would have gotten 35 seats this election, rather than 24. Essentially, FPP only helps you if you lead the pack, which never lasts.

My guess is you are one of the many people who infiltrate forums, only to bother people. It\'s been nice talking to, poor, uniformed, myopic soul. Or perhaps you don\'t care. Several provinces have/will bring in PR. The federal government will follow, some day.

So there, you little so and so.

[Guest]

So the Greens should be heard in debate, but the voters should not be heard on the final tallies, and the NDP shouldn\'t be heard in the legislature. Get a life. You just want the Greens to split the left-wing vote.

[Guest]

Yeah.

Also, if the \"Liberal\" Gordon campbell is any indication, we can look forward to Mike Harris #2 under dalton McGuinty here in Ontario! Campbell has a blue heart all right....and what was so bad about BC\'s last NDP leader? A few missteps, but a great record in general, especially environmentally, all traded away for another Common Sense Revolution. Hopefully Gordon Campbell the drunk driver gets kicked out of office, and the NDP wins again, but I\'m guessing the conservatives could take it. Recall Gordon Campbell! (It\'s in the law you know, just like in Califronia!!!)

Cheers.

[Guest]

Yeah Dave, the NDP\'s platform was the best. I just wish Howard Hampton had listened to his party more, and talked more about other issues. He overdid the \"Public Power\" thing a bit, if he wanted to get votes from the casual voter.....not that the media gave him much coverage, though the newspapers all praised him.....I had no idea that people in other provinces pay as little as $700 a year for auto insurance. Ontarians (and Torontonians) pay the highest rates in the country, at an average of 2-4000 a year! Younger bad drivers can\'t afford this, but older bad drivers can, and younger people who drive poorly often drive illegally, without insurance or a license, anyway....I\'m hoping for FREE university tuition, someday! (it\'s been bandied about, even in big business/university discussions, but probably not seriously.) Just think, we eouldn\'t need to bring in free athletic scholarships, if university were free for everyone, already!!!

As for the Green Party, I loved their platform as well, although I don\'t believe energy conservation in a cold, large country is the answer, as paying the full cost of deregualted energy would hurt our businesses! We have more resources than Europe and should have a national energy program, with provincial agreements, before we lower our standard of living unnecessarily. Also, some Green candidates apparently bombed all-candidates meetings during the student vote Ontario, (polls of the provinces students, including underage) and avoided questions by saying they were a \"Visionary pary.\" It\'s also a joke that they want to LOWER taxes on businesses, individuals, and os forth, and INCREASE taxes on cigarettes, fast food, and other things deemed \"Unhealthy\" or \"Unnecessary\". That\'s great, but it wouldn\'t create enough revenue to pay for everything by itself, and would leave the provincial treasury empty, if the decline in sales of these products continues. (As they are right now.)

Oh yeah, the moderator of the Ontario leaders debate, Mary Lou Finlay -did a horrible job. She should stick to radio. She didn\'t moderate at all. The questions from the media were also weak. Poverty, homelessness and Toronto (!!!) were all not mentioned once during an 1.5 hour debate!!

[Guest]

Some of the name calling above isn\'t very productive, really good debate with sound facts doesn\'t require name calling, we should be trying to educate not brow beat! Just a thought...

[Guest]

You know Toronto doesn\'t have the monopoly on high insurance, young male, under 25yrs living or working in Edmonton can pay anywhere from $4,000.00 to $8,000.00 a year, and the car doesn\'t have to be new, and this is basic coverage! Also the idea that University should be free is interesting, but usually people don\'t value something free, just look at attitudes of families that are on welfare for prolonged periods of time. They lose motivation to succeed. Welfare is a system to assist in times of need and shouldn\'t be there for long term lifestyle. So often you see people who\'s education is paid by Mom and Dad, they waste their time in school and eventually drop out, it doesn\'t have to be so costly that it makes education unavailable, but it must have value. There could be incentives for good grades, reduced fees or more grants to motivate students to achieve, so that the work force coming out of university is the best that can be produced. I was at a seminar once and the speaker offered a gift box, valued at $50.00 and another box for free, everyone was interested in the $50.00 box, it turned out that both boxes were the same, empty!

[N Say]

Public power & public auto insurance are impossible in Ontario now with the NAFTA. A former NDP government (Rae I guess) tried to do that & the US insurance companies challenged it claiming it was illegal & that it would cut into their profits, so there\'s a direct precedent there. Something similar would probably happen if they tried to do the same with the Ontario Hydro as well. Look for my thread on \"inspirational quotes on activism & sovreignty\" or whatever it\'s called for the whole story about the public auto insurance. The NDP sure had the right idea & their hearts are in the right place but every government has their hands tied by the NAFTA.

[Guest]

Sorry we hurt your feelings, we don\'t want to sound American. lol !!!

[Guest]

Great insight, N Say. I forgot about the NAFTA connection. That NAFTA manages to bite us in the behind -whenever we\'re not looking.