Premier Dalton McGuinty indicated that a summer election could be in Ontario's future in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.
Facing significant changes to Ontario's budget legislation (Bill 55) after NDPs and PCs supported amendments in committee, McGuinty threatened to "take this to the people."
McGuinty stated that his government has "made real efforts to be fair and reasonable" by including ideas from both parties in the budget.
"Earlier today, the NDP turned their backs -- yet again -- on an agreement to pass our budget," said McGuinty. "They joined forces with the PCs to gut the government's budget bill."
McGuinty lashed out at NDP leader Andrea Horwath for breaking her promise to help pass the budget and welcomed the support of PC leader Tim Hudak to avoid an election.
"The consequences of the NDP's latest backtrack would hurt our economy when what it needs most is stability and certainty," said McGuinty. "Andrea Horwath and her party have, for the second time, broken their word about passing this budget. This is about Ontario's economic livelihood and our ability to continue steering the province in the right direction in these challenging times. It's absolutely imperative that we pass this budget. And if we cannot pass this budget, we will take it to the people in a general election."
Horwath stated that she has worked hard to make the minority government work. With the PCs voting against the budget in the Legislature on Tuesday, April 24, Horwath and her party had abstained from voting to allow the budget to move to committee. She encouraged the Premier to continue working with all parties to avoid an election.
"When discussing the Ontario's Budget with the Premier, I made it clear that I would not rubberstamp the government's 300 page omnibus bill," said Horwath in a statement. "I made a commitment to ensure passage of the Budget and I will keep my word. I also made a commitment to the people of Ontario, and the Premier, to make that Bill better at the committee stage.
"Now the Premier is threatening an election. I am disappointed: I expect the Premier to keep his word. People don’t want an election at this time. I don't want an election at this time. New Democrats have worked hard to make minority work. I want to keep working hard to ensure that funding flows to daycare centres that need it, that key health investments are made and that the new Fairness Tax on high income earners provides the province with much needed revenue."
McGuinty will hold a press conference on Friday morning to address the budget conflict. The legislature plans to return next Wednesday to vote on the budget bill.
Meanwhile, McGuinty has stuck by his guns in regard to the provincial horse racing industry and the cancellation of the slots-at-racetracks program.
Ontario's former slots-at-racetracks agreement saw more then $1.1-billion in direct revenue stuffed into provincial coffers each year from slot machines housed within provincial racetracks. Horse racing's $345-million cut from the machines' revenue leads to $261-million in direct tax revenue for the Ontario government; a $2-billion annual economic impact on the province, and the employment of roughly 60,000 Ontarians.
The Liberal government recently announced a transitional fund that will provide $50 million at the most over three years in transition support to the industry, and Employment Ontario will help displaced workers in the industry find jobs and training. Consultations will be led by a panel of three former cabinet ministers including Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson.
Personally, I think the ORC
Personally, I think the ORC should be doing a lot more to help the Horse Industry. They are the ruling body and all I've seen is a single letter from Mr. Seiling a month after the announcement by Duncan instead of raising proper hell, your jobs are on the line too! I thought you at the ORC were the experts in this business; but I guess not! It seems to me that McGuinty, Duncan and Godfrey are the experts and the ORC is not. So I am asking you ORC to start fighting for us and yourselves.
Lets hope that Horwath has
Lets hope that Horwath has the courage to stand up against McGinty and not cave in to his absurd budget and threats.
Please, Mr. McGinty, bring it
Please, Mr. McGinty, bring it to the people. I, for one, will work to make sure we show you the door and so will 60,000 other horsemen and women, along with farmers, feed stores, blacksmiths, and truck and trailer dealers. Add teachers, doctors, unions and anyone else you have short-changed in the last 8 years with E-Health, Ornge, and 20 or so other things that have cost the taxpayers of Ontario billions. Please, BRING IT ON!!!
Someone at SC send these
Someone at SC send these comments to Horwath and correct her, everyone in the bloody province other than her and MC Ginty wants the election. My Doctor wants it, my kids teachers want it, my vet wants it. Only the Bingo hall operators don't want it.
And oh by the way, lets keep the slots where they are with the split that the Bingo halls are going to get!
Absolutely, let's take this
Absolutely, let's take this to election and be done with this bunch of "clowns" once and for all. I vote on the people to do the right thing! Justice will prevail!
If money is the reason the
If money is the reason the opposition will not force an election, then 60,000 folks have the answer. Send an e-mail to the NDP or PC MPP of your choice pledging a financial donation when they vote down the budget. The Liberals are counting on the financial strain the opposition parties are under to keep them in line. This announcement by McGuinty is a warning to the parties to tow the line, or go broke trying to run an election campaign.
if you don't want an election
if you don't want an election mr. liberal party than do the right thing,leave the slots at race tracks program alone. this is a program that made free money for the government, something like 1 billion dollars last year.reopen what you closed, sign a long term contract and keep a lot of people on the job line not the ei or welfare line.look real hard this program reduces the defict not increasing it by closing down the horse industry and other supporting industries that work within. thanks bill bojeski
In reply to if you don't want an election by lumpy123
Oh ya Dalton, with 26%
Oh ya Dalton, with 26% support at the polls and dwindling I might add AND you are going to call an election ?
Mind you he does have a history of making some pretty stupid moves.
Just a ridiculous bluff. Andrea keep up the good work I do believe you have him right where you want him.
After seeing first hand the spin these Liberals put on things and decisions that are not logical or business like then how can these Liberals ever reduce a deficit. We are not only fighting for our livelihood but also for our children whom will one day inherit this mess in the once powerful Province of Ontario.
LETS DO THIS !!! and bid
LETS DO THIS !!! and bid farewell to McGuinty & Duncan and restore some sanity to Ontario. there are 60,000 VOTERS who would be more than happy to VOTE DOWN INSANITY. Don't forget the DOCTORS and TEACHERS. We need the Doctors to stay in Ontario and we need these teachers that educate our kids, 2nd & 3rd Generation Horsemen. As a horseman I resent Liberals telling me when to quit racing, because I want to continue racing. What do Windsor folks think ???
I cannot help, but to believe
I cannot help, but to believe that the current government is controlled by big casino businesses that could care less about the 60,000 plus people who will lose their livelihood.
We must reach out and find people who are willing to compete for these government positions, and then force changes one by one to remove the current representatives who are undermining our way of life.
Different movements have arisen based upon the government not taking care of the people, so please consider contacting your local representative finding out their position on this issue, and then work to find someone who will support our issues. No more giving-in to those in government who play games with our lives.
"The consequences of the
"The consequences of the NDP's latest backtrack would hurt our economy when what it needs most is stability and certainty," McGuinty says
Replace the bit about "NDP's latest backtrack" with Liberals "backstab of the racing industry" and what do you get.
Hypocrisy personified
Most of Ontario especially
Most of Ontario especially the North want an election, the racing industry & the sale of Ontario Northland are the big issues, the fact the NDP, Liberals & PC"s can't afford it is the reason why we are unlikely to get one.
YES! we want an election!
Yes Please Mr. McGuinty, take
Yes Please Mr. McGuinty, take it to the people!!
I think we have had as much
I think we have had as much as we can take from this government. Time for Ms. Horwath to take a firm stand along with Mr. Hudak and let the people of Ontario show Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Duncan the door. There is too much at stake for the future of this province to allow this dictatorial style of governing to continue. Lets accommodate Mr. McGuinty with a summer election and let the people decide who they support.
I want one too
I want one too
All of us think that we get
All of us think that we get dirty when we clean a stall out. That is nothing compared to how dirty all of these political hacks are. I always thought people ran for office ( political ) to SERVE the populace. These guys serve themselves first, and only. Andrea has been playing politics now for 8 weeks. Think about how much cash has vanished from the breeding market in the interim. I personally own a mare that was going to be bred, at a cost of probably 15 grand total. CANCELLED!!! Sad times in Ontario, because of clueless and uncaring politicians.
Yes, let's decide Dalton's
Yes, let's decide Dalton's fate for a change.
I wonder why Horwarth says
I wonder why Horwarth says the people don't want an election.I am a people.......I WANT AN ELECTION!!