;;
ONT NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will become Premier of Ontario
Sat, 2012-04-28 17:34
#1
ONT NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will become Premier of Ontario
Sat, 2012-04-28 17:36
#2
She is making all the right moves - what a refreshing change in Ontario, and she can help Mulcair become Canadian prime minister as well.
Horwath calls for electric trains along airport rail link
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120428/Horwath-calls-fo...
Sat, 2012-04-28 20:24
#3
I'm not convinced of that yet. There's a long long way to go yet and plenty that could happen, like a new Liberal leader that might make that impossible. She's definitely doing better than any ONDP leader has in twenty years and that's encouraging.
Sat, 2012-04-28 23:42
#4
I think she's great. Admittedly, sometimes I feel she sounds a bit less polished than the others, but in a way that's a part of her charm. She's simultaneously effective and down-to-earth at the same time.
Sun, 2012-04-29 00:03
#5
I think the wieght of scandles is starting to tell on the Liberals. Ornge maybe the latest, and that story isn't done yet. There will be more headlines. And that's hung on the party as much as McGinty. I am not sure a leadership change will make that go away.
In the last election, I think people were looking for an excuse not to vote Liberal. They didn't know Andrea then, and the more they saw of Hudak, the less they were sure there was an alternative.
The possibility of an NDP government in the next go round is not outside the realm of possibility.
Sun, 2012-04-29 06:46
#6
Boom Boom
(edited)
I had a good sleep and am a bit more optimistic today. I agree Andrea has a chance to be elected, but she really needs to fire away at McQuinty for this budget. I still think she should have demanded much more.
Premier Horwath - has a nice ring to it. Does she really want to inherit Ontario's financial mess? How would she avoid becoming the next Bob Rae?
Sun, 2012-04-29 12:42
#7
(edited)
I had a good sleep and am a bit more optimistic today. I agree Andrea has a chance to be elected, but she really needs to fire away at McQuinty for this budget. I still think she should have demanded much more.
Premier Horwath - has a nice ring to it. Does she really want to inherit Ontario's financial mess? How would she avoid becoming the next Bob Rae?
The mess Rae inherited from Peterson was unknown until after Rae had won. So, there were many expectations upon Rae that were unmet, whereas Horwath could become premier with more grounded expectations from the public due to knowledge of the current financial situtation.
Sun, 2012-04-29 13:00
#8
Boom Boom
Is there a campaign speech (print, not youtube) from Horwath still around from the last election that I can download? I'd like to read what she will deliver if elected.
Wed, 2012-05-09 22:09
#9
This bribery corruption will also stick with liberals, helping Horwath win.
Her high personal popularity also works in her favour.
I honestly don't see anyone else winning baring any major mistakes. Dalton has trade possible short term gain, for certain long term pain and Tim Hudak, well that one answers itself.
Between Mulcair and Horwath the party in Ontario only gets stronger.
Thu, 2012-05-10 00:08
#10
So what we need to more really good MPPs in the house because you need to have a "front bench".
Thu, 2012-05-10 11:58
#11
M. Spector
Hey, if Bob Rae could be elected Premier, then any ONDP leader could.
Wed, 2012-05-16 18:55
#12
So what we need to more really good MPPs in the house because you need to have a "front bench".
I agree with this. Surely Bisson, Gelinas, Prue, Marchese, DiNivo, Tabuns and Singh would be there. But I haven't been quite impressed with any of the new ones yet. Some have turned me off, (Mantha: nasty comments about fellow MPP Orazietti). Taylor, Vanthof and even Natyshak are quite frankly not front bench material. Armstrong, Forster and Campbell could do well with more experience. But it would be tough to have a really effective front bench with all new MPs.
Wed, 2012-05-16 19:12
#13
alan smithee
Best of luck to Horwath and the NDP,sincerely.
Ontario deserves better than McGuinty and Hudak....But I won't hold my breath quite yet.
Wed, 2012-05-16 20:42
#14
Surely Bisson, Gelinas, Prue, Marchese, DiNivo, Tabuns and Singh would be there. But I haven't been quite impressed with any of the new ones yet. Some have turned me off, (Mantha: nasty comments about fellow MPP Orazietti). Taylor, Vanthof and even Natyshak are quite frankly not front bench material. Armstrong, Forster and Campbell could do well with more experience. But it would be tough to have a really effective front bench with all new MPs.
I don't know a lot about Taylor. Teresa Armstrong sounds quite able, but her main claim to fame seems to be "Politics is not a new venture for Teresa. She has worked alongside and supported her husband Bill Armstrong, City Councillor, Ward 2 for many years." And Sarah Campbell is no slouch herself; despite her young age she was able to ride her job as Howard Hampton's Constituency Assistant (and her election to the Kenora District Services Board) into the MPP's job.
John Vanthof's bio is impressive:
John’s public service career started with his election to the Temiskaming Dairy Producer Committee on which he has served for more than 20 years including several years as Chair. In 2004, John was elected for a four-year term to the Board of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, a marketing organization with over $1 billion in annual sales. John was DFO Director when Thornloe Cheese was threatened with closure and he played a key role in its rebirth.John also served on municipal council for 12 years, but he is most widely recognized for his ten-year term as President of the Temiskaming Federation of Agriculture. During that time, the Federation represented the agricultural community in some key issues most notably the Adams Mine Landfill debate. The critical analysis of the Ministry of Environment’s approval, commissioned by the Federation, was one of the catalysts that stopped the project. The lawsuit that was launched against John by the owners of the site was dropped a week prior to his run for MPP for Temiskaming Cochrane in 2007. The seat was held by the Minister of Natural Resources. John came within 630 votes of defeating him.
John was a member of the Board of Directors for the 2009 International Plowing Match. His main responsibility was the student educational program for the Match.
John currently sits on the Board of the Englehart and District Hospital, and the fundraising committee for the Englehart Family Health Clinic. He is also vice chair of the Temiskaming Foundation.
So is Cindy Forster's:
A lifelong Welland resident, former mayor, and Registered Nurse, Cindy is an expert in keeping her community healthy.As mayor, Cindy took to heart Welland’s tradition of standing up for itself by holding the line on municipal taxes, helping library workers achieve pay equity and attracting employers like Convergys to the city.
Now a Niagara Regional Councillor, she’s also been a Director of the Public Library Board, the Welland Hydro Corporation and the Welland Economic Development Corporation.
Taras Natyshak has done a fair bit:
Taras is Director of Training for the Labourers’ International Union of North America. He is active in the movement for Occupational Health and Safety reform. Between sitting on the board of the Windsor Workers Action Centre and the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre to volunteering with the United Way and the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Natyshak has dedicated his life to implementing positive change in his community.
Wed, 2012-05-16 22:58
#15
I think they will do fine and correct some of the other one's need experience and time to grow into their political roles. It would be great if we were able to elect some NDP MPPs who have other political experience and in lower levels of govt like municipal and school board politics - it helps with the cultural shift to elected office, knowing and understanding goverance, and how it works - really works. 
Wed, 2012-05-16 23:17
#16
So what we need to more really good MPPs in the house because you need to have a "front bench".
I agree with this. Surely Bisson, Gelinas, Prue, Marchese, DiNivo, Tabuns and Singh would be there. But I haven't been quite impressed with any of the new ones yet. Some have turned me off, (Mantha: nasty comments about fellow MPP Orazietti). Taylor, Vanthof and even Natyshak are quite frankly not front bench material. Armstrong, Forster and Campbell could do well with more experience. But it would be tough to have a really effective front bench with all new MPs.
You forgot Jonah Schein
Thu, 2012-05-17 08:35
#17
thanks Stock - yeah Jonah is front bench.
Mon, 2012-05-28 04:44
#18
Mon, 2012-05-28 06:27
#19
I'm sure crushing the poor even more as agreed is still on..
a plague upon all their houses
Wed, 2012-06-06 14:42
#20
I'm sure crushing the poor even more as agreed is still on..
a plague upon all their houses
On the contrary, the NDP is sticking up for the poor and working class of Ontario and making it far more difficult for the other two parties to stick it to us in Ontario.
Wed, 2012-06-06 14:51
#21
Delighted to hear it. What a load off my mind...
Wed, 2012-06-06 21:59
#22
autoworker
A softening of Liberal support will only help Hudak, a collapse would give the PCs a majority.
Thu, 2012-06-07 07:44
#23
Hudak can't be helped.... PCs don't have confidence in him, let alone the public.
A softening of Liberal Support is a good thing.
It will give people a chance to think about what they want.
Thu, 2012-06-07 10:30
#24
I think the wieght of scandles is starting to tell on the Liberals. Ornge maybe the latest, and that story isn't done yet. There will be more headlines. And that's hung on the party as much as McGinty. I am not sure a leadership change will make that go away. (emphasis GB)
You're certainly right, TP, saying that the ORNGE story ain't done yet.
To date, France Gelinas et. al. have focused on individuals, which implies that future problems can be addressed by rooting out idle gatekeepers and active ne'er-do-wells who have managed to enter public service.
Surely preventive measures that can be taken to keep avaricious scoundrels out of public service in the first place, for example, by pegging payments to staff in government departments and quasi-government agencies to the salary paid to the Premier. It would be refreshing to hear Andrea & Co. advocating (and effecting) something like that.
Fri, 2012-06-08 23:29
#25
autoworker
Hudak can't be helped.... PCs don't have confidence in him, let alone the public. A softening of Liberal Support is a good thing. It will give people a chance to think about what they want.
I agree that there is a lack of confidence in Hudak (Witmer's departure seems to indicate a lack of enthusiasm for his leadership). I see Alberta's chosen direction as a more attractive alternative for disaffected Liberals (even Danielle Smith realizes which direction the horse is now running). Within that paradigm, Christine Elliott would provide a formidable challenge to McGuinty, as Ontario voters look toward leadership that works with Alberta, in the best interests of Ontario, especially when equalization transfers are renegotiated in 2014. Horwath's dilemma may be that Ontario's interests are now at odds with Mulcair's vision.
Sat, 2012-06-09 14:06
#26
Jagmeet Singh's auto insurance bill is a prime example of the kind of safe pocketbook populism Horwath and the party now promotes which is going to alienate the base and probably not work out very well if it were to actually pass. Insurance companies will retaliate by raising rates so everyone ends up with some outrageous rate.
Singh talks about how we have tp put Ontarians first, not the insurance company profits yada, yada. Well let's face it the only way to significantly cut premiums is to have public auto insurance. The insurance companies will just screw around to avoid regulation.
The party which actually managed to win the symbolic (but given the anti-tax discourse in North America, it's significant) concession of raising taxes on this rich has stopped talking about this and has decided to focus on auto insurance instead.
My Guess: Andrea Horwath will not be the Premier of Ontario.
Mon, 2012-06-11 17:57
#27
Just heard that Michael Prue shall be reintroducing Bill 114, aka Protecting Employees' Tips Act, soon. The Bill will add the following to the Employment Standards Act:
14.1 An employer shall not take any portion of an employee’s tips or other gratuities.
Information on supporting this can be found here.
Tue, 2012-06-12 01:38
#28
Hey, if Bob Rae could be elected Premier, then any ONDP leader could.
Bob Rae got elected Premier because:
1) He was a smart, versatile politician who actually had strong abilities
2) Voters wanted a break from the back and forth PC vs. Liberal routine
Tue, 2012-06-12 13:12
#29
And so does Andrea - also Prue is again standing up for the little guy and gal - WTG Michael!
Wed, 2012-06-13 15:24
#30
Just heard that Michael Prue shall be reintroducing Bill 114, aka Protecting Employees' Tips Act, soon. The Bill will add the following to the Employment Standards Act:
14.1 An employer shall not take any portion of an employee’s tips or other gratuities.Information on supporting this can be found here.
Good news! Seems the government is supportive of this bill. link
Wed, 2012-06-13 15:49
#31
the government also include transgender people as part of the Ontario human right code...i cant help but think it has to do with the rising popularity of the Ontario NDP.
Wed, 2012-06-13 17:43
#32
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
Wed, 2012-06-13 17:51
#33
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
You mean, there's a chance the NDP-run provinces might imitate Liberal-run Ontario on this one? Let me know.
Wed, 2012-06-13 22:03
#34
the government also include transgender people as part of the Ontario human right code...i cant help but think it has to do with the rising popularity of the Ontario NDP.
I agree with takeitslowly. It was due to the NDP pushing for this, specifically the work of MPP Cheri DiNovo.
Thu, 2012-06-14 18:39
#35
Boom Boom
CBC: McQuinty threatening a snap election, saying Horwath broke her word to him.
Thu, 2012-06-14 20:13
#36
Dalton's the lier, Andrea had an agreement to support the budget not a tacted in Harper style omnibus bill, which has over 68 laws being amended, she's just reverting the deal to what it orginally was. Dalton's a scam artist and the worst part is the Globe is quoting him and Duncon none stop, but gave the NDP no rebuttal. I don't remember the last time I,read such one sided trash in the globe outside their rightwing columnists.
Thu, 2012-06-14 21:38
#37
http://ontariondp.com/en/statement-by-ndp-leader-andrea-horwath-on-the-2...
A part of her side of the story, which you don't get from the globe.
And
http://ontariondp.com/en/new-democrats-table-amendments-aimed-at-stoppin...
Thu, 2012-06-14 22:05
#38
autoworker
- We'll see if McGuinty has the stomach to call an election. Horwath should call his bluff and vote against the bill. Hudak would probably win a minority, but there's a good opportunity for the NDP to form the Opposition. The Liberals are smelling like fish.
Thu, 2012-06-14 22:25
#39
Boom Boom
Here's the Star's account: Dalton McGuinty threatens an election after budget bill 'gutted'
Thu, 2012-06-14 23:01
#40
Autoworker, I hope the NDP wins the election because do you really want a Con govt???? Really! I remember the Harris years and they were dark and cloudy - Hudak won't win.
Fri, 2012-06-15 10:38
#41
Dalton's the lier, Andrea had an agreement to support the budget not a tacted in Harper style omnibus bill, which has over 68 laws being amended, she's just reverting the deal to what it orginally was. Dalton's a scam artist and the worst part is the Globe is quoting him and Duncon none stop, but gave the NDP no rebuttal. I don't remember the last time I,read such one sided trash in the globe outside their rightwing columnists. (emphasis GB)
Yes, but Andrea needs to make this point very forcefully because the Liberals were first out of the gate on the issue.
On another issue, the PC push to cut off ORNGE funding, Andrea is reportedly adopting a wait-and-see position:
The Progressive Conservatives want to cut off $150 million in ORNGE funding unless the Liberal government strikes a powerful probe to fully investigate the troubled air ambulance service. . . .
But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath isn't convinced this is the right move. She is taking a wait-and-see position on the amendment.
Who wants a wait-and-see Premier? And in any case France Gelinas should be speaking to ORNGE issues. The budget showdown with Dalton McGuinty is more than enough for her to be handling.
Seems to me. 
Fri, 2012-06-15 21:39
#42
Oh, goodie.
It appears that Doug Ford is making noises about throwing his hat into the ring if McGimpy is fool enough to call another election. I'd like to say that I have faith the rotten sack of shit would get nowhere near Queen's Park should such an eventuality come to pass, but after some of the political decisions the people of Ontario have made in recent years? Let's just say I'm not exactly confident that it couldn't happen. Look at the Mike Harris years. Look at what we have as a Mayor in Toronto just now. Look at our beloved PM. Eeesh.
Fri, 2012-06-15 22:20
#43
http://ontariondp.com/en/fact-check-ndp-problems-with-bill-55-are-old-news
This verifies that she told him from the beginning that she planned to ammend his budget at commitee from day one of the deal, he had to of know. I think what's really pissing him off is he never thought the Tories would help her, I think Dalton assumed she'd be a defanged wolf at committees because for the most part idealogic differences between her and Hudak, I think he underestimated how much Hudak likes pissing him off.
Sat, 2012-06-16 01:51
#44
autoworker
Autoworker, I hope the NDP wins the election because do you really want a Con govt???? Really! I remember the Harris years and they were dark and cloudy - Hudak won't win.
Horwath has a credible chance of forming a government, if she can remain being her own woman, and can convince Ontario voters that she will put Ontario's fiscal needs above national unity considerations, when equalization transfers are renegotiated. The Cons, no doubt, intend to exploit the new 'fiscal imbalance', as austerity deepens and reactionary solutions become increasingly popular.
Sat, 2012-06-16 16:52
#45
First, McGuinty will lose support from the teachers of Ontario with his austerity salary proposal.
Next, if a provincial election were to take place this summer, I would advise Andrea Horwath not to duplicate the ONDP's last campaign. Always offer something different and new. Attack Dalton McGuinty as a clone of Mike Harris and Stephen Harper. Talk about Dalton's privatization proposal. "Dalton McGuinty doesn't trust the citizens of Ontarians." Campaign on the NDP's perceived weakness--economics. Make that into a strength. Campaign on sound economic policies that will also ensure Ontarians good social programs and a safe environment.
Sat, 2012-06-16 18:16
#46
Boom Boom
Remind the voters that, like Harper, McQuinty put forth an Omnibus bill.
Sun, 2012-06-17 10:38
#47
Omnibus bill a la Liberal. I think McGuinty is doing the squeeze on Andrea to make the ONDP to look bad - a lose lose situation. If the NDP "give so to speak" it looks like they sold out their base and principles (gutting of environmental protection and govt's ability to privitize services) , or if they stick to their values, they will be painted (by libs) as causing an election.
But I think there is other things going on here. He could prologue which puts everything on hold for the summer and call that little bi election. I think that is the real reason why this is happening. He's read the polls and the libs are running in 3rd place. He's trying to "tap down" the popularity of the NDP because depending on the candidate who run for the NDP could really mess up there dreams for a win here.
I'm thinking this is the real political game hidden from view.
Sun, 2012-06-17 14:05
#48
Has there been any information about which NDP candidates from the last election would be prepared to run again?
Sun, 2012-06-17 15:51
#49
love is free
But I think there is other things going on here. He could prologue which puts everything on hold for the summer and call that little bi election. I think that is the real reason why this is happening. He's read the polls and the libs are running in 3rd place. He's trying to "tap down" the popularity of the NDP because depending on the candidate who run for the NDP could really mess up there dreams for a win here.
something like this. i don't know all that much about ontario politics, but it seems pretty clear that it would be nuts for mcguinty to call an election when he's only 1 seat away from a majority - with a winnable kitchener-waterloo by-election in the pipes. seems equally clear that this little charade is about arresting ndp momentum and setting the agenda going into the by-election fight. if the ndp were to "spoil" the by-election for the plo or, far worse, win it outright (who knows?), mcguinty would pretty much have to concede a certain ground to the opposition for some time to come (ie. until the next by-election in an opposition-held seat), so the trick is to do everything possible to harm the ndp by-election campaign. pretty simple stuff.
as an aside, i'd just like to call attention to how amazing the shift has been in ontario over the past few months. i'm not really sure what happened, some sort of post-election regret or mulcair's election as ndp leader or a new awareness of horwath's skillz or mcguinty fatigue or what, but ontario seems to have broken through that p.e.i.-level of resistance to the orange wave, and polling consistently puts the ndp ahead of or tied with the plo. heady days, these.
Sun, 2012-06-17 20:55
#50
My take.
There will be no election in Ontario. The only party with the fiscal resources to mount a campaign is the Liberal Party.
And until there's a change in leadership at OPC HQ... I doubt the status quo will change.
The Ont Libs will be able to push the ONDP and PCs around more or less at will while they regroup. The recent headlines are just splashy inside politics shit.
Only the NDP and Libs could make gains if there was an election in the summer. The PCs could swamp them all with a good leader. Ontario historically swings moderate PC.
Sun, 2012-06-17 23:53
#51
I disagree with you Farmpunk. Both the libs and NDP have about the same amount of debt from the last campaign while the Cons have at least a million dollars more. I think the numbers mentioned today were 3 mil for both libs and NDP and 4.5 mil for the Cons. I think the election scare is just that but has wider consequences for the libs if they pulled the plug.
Also, the libs are stuck in 3rd place in all polls - not a position of strength.