Kathleen Wynne's days as Ontario's Liberal leader were always numbered. She came at the end of a long Liberal run. And familiarity breeds contempt. Wynne had an ambitious agenda. Martin Regg Cohn writes:
Wynne put forward a bold new Ontario public pension plan, forcing Ottawa and the other provinces to improve the outdated CPP. She emphasized the environment by building mass transit while embracing cap and trade carbon pricing. She liberated beer from the grip of the big brewers who owned the Beer Store, delivering it into supermarkets. She achieved her promise of a balanced budget (until the auditor general, with peculiar pre-election timing, moved the goalposts). And she appointed a new minister of Indigenous affairs to foster reconciliation.
But she refused to raise taxes to pay for her program and instead decided to sell off a considerable chunk of Hydro One to pay for it. That was a bridge too far:
Wynne called it “asset rotation” and “broadened ownership,” but she got all tangled up.
People confused Hydro One with the defunct Ontario Hydro. Outdated hydro poles were conflated with electricity strategy, even though Ontario Power Generation (OPG) was never on the auction block.
It was Wynne’s undoing. Instead of demonstrating her open-minded approach to practical problem solving, the public took it as proof of the premier’s betrayal of provincial values of public ownership.
And, so, Ontarians sent the Liberals into the wilderness. We will soon learn what, if anything, they have learned in exile.
Image: The Toronto Star
4 comments:
I wonder how many of the voters who gave a pass to the fact that Doug was breezing through the campaign without the hint of a platform are thinking now that Kathleen really wasn't too bad after all.
I wrote at the time of Ford's election that, in ten years, Wynne's record wouldn't look that bad, John. I'll stand by that judgment.
.. its Sunday & we are among the 'Sunny Days' we were promised once or twice, Owen
Sadly.. I neither feel generous enuff or in a forgiving mood re the collection basket.. and goldarn it but I just feel a little heathen spirit has 'yay, descended upon me' or is it yea.. or neigh ? An eon ago, Babel On The Bay foretold the Coming of Del Duca.. he had his 'leadership' locked up tighter than a Patrick Brown or Jagmeet Singh who also know a bit about 'leadership via retail membership' sales n purchase hide n seek gifting to strangers dontcha know !
Presumably, Mr Del Duca will determine what luminous & Liberal political candidates will be presented to Ontario voters to oppose the dark forces of Mr Doug Ford ? That seems to be the remnant shred of Democracy these days, ie by election. One of those chosen few Libtsrds lucky enuff to be elected will be appointed Party Whip.. and will lickedy split educate other winning Libs (if any) re the fine art of obedience to the Supreme Leader & not to respond to the Dreams, Needs or Wishes of Ontario citizenry.. aka those foolish enuff to believe its all 'nation building' or 'for some people' or other sneering sloganeering.. Who know's perhaps some voters will see 'a greater purpose'.. a divine higher power at work.. and onward Christian Soldiers eh ??
If indeed, the Del Luca chosen & righteous few shalt slay the all powerful hordes of the Education Minister in Chief Ford.. and wreak the holy power of the jawbone of an ass upon the giant Dealer Doug and his acolyte bagman Chieftain Stephen Lecce & Minister McVey.. then surely Blessed Lobs too can invoke the 'Retroactive Law' legislation or the 'grace of God, the all knowing being' or Divine Right.. and do a fine job of delivering Ontario students from evil.. Amen ????? Only then will the holy Ring Of Fire at the end of A Golden Arch reveal the proud ponzi mystery of endless wealth, whereby the Ontario Advantage may wreak its resource extraction majesty.. everymore.. as The Raven quoth in a scripture by St Edgar Allen Poe .. (never, ever..)
I myself prefer the immortal scriptures of Johnny Cash re all things Ring of Fire .. eh !
Unfortunately, politics these days is about personality cults, sal. Character will get us out of our doldrums. Personality won't.
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