Using a school as his backdrop and education as his primary platform, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty officially set the date for two crucial provincial byelections on Wednesday.
The two byelections, in the ridings of Kitchener-Waterloo and Vaughan, are required to replace retiring Liberal MPP Greg Sorbara in the Vaughan riding and Kitchener-Waterloo’s former PC MPP Elizabeth Witmer, who left in April after she was hand-picked by McGuinty to head the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Both byelections will be held on Thursday, Sept. 6
Speaking at Mackenzie Glen Public School in Vaughan, McGuinty once again used horse racing as a scapegoat for his party's deficit issues as the Liberals face a $15 billion debt without actually explaining the financial windfall provided to the province and education through the slots-at-racetracks program in any great detail.
“The PCs, for example, they would put money into horse racing before all full-day kindergarten,” McGuinty said. I think that’s the wrong choice. The NDP are saying they would give teachers pay increases and that money would come out of the classroom. Again, I think that’s the wrong choice.”
Just hours before McGuinty announced the byelection, the Liberal government issued a press release about spending millions of dollars to upgrade Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph but the Premier said he knew nothing about it.
"I'm not familiar with this press release," McGuinty said. "I do know that Highway 7 is something we've been talking about for a long time in that community, that there has been significant work underway for some time."
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath wasn't buying the coincidental timing, noting that the project is something the area has been waiting at least five years for.
"All of a sudden, it's back on the agenda."
The Liberals have been accused of trying to save seats by pulling the plug on a power plant in Mississauga just days before the last election on Oct. 6, leaving taxpayers on the hook for $190 million.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan told a legislative committee last month that the Liberal campaign made the decision when they were behind in the polls.
Two years ago, they cancelled plans for another gas-fired generating station in neighbouring Oakville -- also a Liberal riding -- amid vociferous opposition from local residents.
That same year, McGuinty shrugged off accusations of vote-buying in an Ottawa riding after the Liberals provided an estimated $200 million to help Nortel pensioners during a byelection campaign.
They also promised an estimated $15 million to keep a threatened hospital from closing in a downtown Toronto riding on the eve of a byelection. The Liberals ended up hanging onto both seats.
McGuinty will have to face the music over the cancelled gas plant and the fiasco at Ontario's troubled air ambulance service when voters go to the polls this fall, said Horwath.
The controversy over Ornge has heated up in the months since provincial police announced a criminal investigation over financial irregularities. A legislative committee has heard explosive allegations of possible kickbacks, the former CEO's $1.4 million compensation package and the lack of government oversight of the service, which receives $150 million a year.
The voters in Vaughan and Kitchener-Waterloo have an opportunity to send a clear message to the Liberals that they can't be trusted with the power of a majority, Howarth said.
"They have not earned the respect of Ontarians," she said. "They have not earned the confidence of Ontarians. And in fact, since October, we've seen more and more reasons why not to give this government a majority."
(with files from CP)
This may be a good time to
This may be a good time to get the doctor's union and the teachers union involved as collectively it is the same issue. Take away SAR and there is less money for health and education therefore less money for doctors and teachers.
Time to step up the pressure and get these unions involved, time for OHHA and WEG (OHRIA/COSA) to put their petty differences aside and step up to the plate. There is more strentgh in numbers and these numbers sure are favourable.
Greg Parke
Thanks Carolyn! I understand
Thanks Carolyn! I understand we won't be able to sway them all but we can sure try. There is always going to be the 'faithful Liberal voters' out there or people who think it won't affect them. The thing that's really ticking me off is people in the industry won't get off their duff and do their part. I have two small children (2 and almost 1) and with a few sleepless nights (let's be honest, who can sleep anyway?) I researched the history of the SAR program, put some emotion into it et voila! There's nothing stopping anyone else from writing a piece about the effects on the urbanites or how the Liberals' decision to cancel the program affects them personally etc. and getting it out there. Wellington County did the same thing with their dvd. As Runciman said, we need to utilize social media outlets to get our story out there. Instead of waiting for cues from our "leaders" (OHRIA), I took it upon myself to spread the word banking on the help of my close friends and forums filled with people who want to make a difference. Everyone keeps whining about the situation we are in but when push comes to shove, no one wants to step up. Blair and Bob took the initiative and they came up with a damn good plan. What's stopping everyone else?
In the Toronto Star pg
In the Toronto Star pg A19(Front Section) today there is an opinion article by Rob Hepburn. This article states that the Liberals misled the government and the public. It states that Ontrario Place was portrayed by the Liberals as a money losing disaster...when in fact it was not. Does anyone doubt how corrupt the Liberals are as they obviously did this to pave the way for the waterfront casino on Ontario Place land which has backfired on them. Shame, shame and more lies.
Chuck Ibey
Very well written and very
Very well written and very informative Christine. But, I fear there are still those out there who really don't care because they believe this doesn't affect them.
I believe we need to concentrate on those people who believe this decision doesn't affect them, by making them aware that this will affect them, and right in the pocket book!
They need to be told Duncan and McGuinty can't throw away close to 2 billion dollars a year in revenue from slots-at-racetracks and the taxes paid by the 60,000+ full and part time workers in this industry, and have no plan to replace those dollars.
We need to make them aware that the only way to replace those dollars is either with Program cuts or Tax Increases, or be faced with an increased deficit.
Now maybe they will start to listen, because contrary to what these people believe, every tax payer here in Ontario will pay for this financially irresponsible decision!
In light of this
In light of this announcement, we need to come together to help educate Ontario (focusing on Kitchener-Waterloo and Vaughan) of the destruction the Liberal government is causing by decimating the Industry by canceling the Slots At Racetracks program. I am providing a downloadable/printable link to an information packed handout I composed to help spread the word of the government's Broken Promise. http://bit.ly/PTTyGh
PLEASE feel free to PRINT, DISTRIBUTE and SHARE. The industry is more than aware of the repercussions, this needs to be circulated outside the industry.
Now is the time to show the
Now is the time to show the Fiberal's how we feel, vote them OUT in Waterloo and Vaughan, this is your chance to change the face of horse racing...
When Dalton branded our
When Dalton branded our industry as a subsidy and Hudaks support of it our response should have been "Why does Dalton Mcguinty favor foreign casino interests over the tens of thousands of hard working men and women in racings' huge agricultural sector. Ontario needs more jobs,not less." We could have rebranded him with cost effective radio ads. However our leadership(or total lack thereof) chose instead to offer no response and now we are in all likelyhood finished, praying somehow that the outcome of a byelection doesn't put the final nail in the coffin.
By hook or by crook we have
By hook or by crook we have to make sure that the liberals do NOT win these by-elections.Horsemen in these ridings have to recognize this window of oppurtunity and work hard for the other parties.Decide whether the Conservatives or the NDP has the best chance and then work hard and long for them.
I'm actually surprised he didn't call a general elction.He is just vain enough to think he might win a majority.He might if he loses both these ridings.
THE STAGE IS SET.. but time
THE STAGE IS SET..
but time is very tight...with vacations in full swing, busy stakes, etc. and a million other viable excuses...just the way the Libs want it...an early sept call makes it very difficult for any media from 'the right' to make in roads....pcs and ndp have very little real campaigning time to turn these seats into anything but red.
so, we've got them right where we want them.
is it realistic to flood into these two ridings and help defeat them, confirming this leader and his crew as a real minority and one subject to opposition pressures and perhaps the ultimate, non-confidence.
can leaders help facilitate this in-riding pressure?...dont know,,,but it is time to try it. Kitchener/Waterloo and Vaughan,,two areas easily reached by all fans of racing in the GTA and beyond.
jctoronto
I was surprised to hear him
I was surprised to hear him bring up horse racing in his press conference in regards to the by election, but I guess I shouldn't be. He is just dummer than a bag of hammers and he just proved it. All the press and the benifits of the SAR program and the work of OHRIA , and the message still hasn't gotten through to this idiot. I hope the PC party will use the Standardbred Canada website to pass out information as to what we can do to help out in these ridings and I urge all members to try to get involved and help defeat these criminals.
Now is the time for the
Now is the time for the "Leaders" in our industry to get organised and lead the charge to defeat the Liberals in both byelections, don't hold you breath waiting for this to happen though!
Record deficit. No
Record deficit. No conversation about fiscal responsibility. Out of the mouth of Mr. McGuinty, Spend Spend Spend. Hopefully to get that all important majority. The people of these two ridings in question must see right through this. Bruce T. Winning.