Despite
the obnoxious debt clock parked outside John Milloy’s office in my
local Kitchener-center riding and despite the local PC candidate Dave
MacDonald’s best efforts at convincing Kitchener residents to vote for
Tim Hudak’s “changebook” agenda, Liberals lead by five percentage points
in seat projections, according to ThreeHundredEight.com.
(It
is also important to note the disclaimer at the bottom of the chart in
the link directing you to ThreeHundredEight.com. This escaped me before,
but it clearly states that the projections themselves are not actual
polling data but that they are only calculations using
ThreeHundredEight.com’s proprietary projection model.)
I’d
attribute this to the fact that John Milloy has been a well liked and
familiar face in Kitchener for quite some time now. I believe he has
maintained a steady lead as an incumbent, over MacDonald, the local
weather man, opening his office almost two weeks ago and canvassing with
his supporters day in and day out. Success can also be attributed to
the Provincial Liberal Party’s sound strategy of progressive investment
in the economy and the creation of new jobs.
Milloy
is looking for his 3rd consecutive term, having been initially elected
as MP back in 2003 and then re-elected in 2007. He is also currently the
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities in Ontario.
Mr.
Dave MacDonald, the hopeful candidate for Kitchener-center seems rather
unprepared for his first election. I haven’t really seen MacDonald
making public appearances either.
Although I admit I’m not too keen on following local Conservative habits and events.
But
regardless of his whereabouts and regardless of his recruiting and
canvassing efforts, the PC action plan he is trying to push is about as
solid as thin air. It’s not progressive, because lets face it, the P in
Progressive Conservative might as well stand for pre-historic or
platitudinous.
However,
despite MacDonald’s no show in my opinion and his weak campaign, the
Liberals must always be on their guard during this election. The
undecided mob in Kitchener is fickle, people may at any time change
their vote on a whim regardless of how small or big a change in our
course.
There
was an article I read in the Globe and Mail about two days ago that
suggested that the Ontario Liberals are taking a page from the federal
PCs’ election playbook by promoting steady as she goes policies and
consistent performance protecting the economy and health care over the
past four years.
And
why shouldn’t we promote these things? It is a fact that the HST has
helped pay of some of the provincial debt and has allowed the government
to direct more funds to improving health care and education in Ontario.
It’s also a fact that the recently announced PC tax plan only focuses
on tax-cuts for middle-income families and is outmatched by the tax
reform the McGuinty Liberals introduced with the HST more than a year
ago.
Thus,
what I think is that the PCs may have a relatively sound short-term
economic plan, but they lack the ability to come up with progressive,
forward-moving and long term economic, social and new energy policies
that are efficient and inclusive of all Ontarians.
They should know by now that tax cuts geared only towards middle-income families do not always produce new jobs for Ontarians.
However,
if the PCs announced that these cuts will extend both to low income and
small businesses in the province then they might have something to go
on.
So
until they become enlightened, I think their black hole of a platform
will hold little sway with Ontarians and as a consequence so will the PC
candidate in Kitchener-Center trail behind the Liberals both in future
opinion polls, projections and in leadership.