A second Ontario by-election will be taking place this fall, after Liberal MPP Greg Sorbara announced Wednesday, August 1 that he is resigning from his post in the City of Vaughan.
As an article by the Toronto Star explains, the Minority Liberal Government now hold 51 seats in the Ontario Legislature, excluding Speaker Dave Levac, versus a combined tally of 53 seats for the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats.
Anthony MacDonald, one of Canada's top harness drivers, announced roughly two weeks ago that he will be running for the Progressive Conservative party in the next provincial by-election in the riding of Guelph–Wellington.
The Star report has quoted Sorbara as saying that he feels the growing riding of Vaughan needs a younger MPP who can devote more of his or her time to representing the people. Sorbara stated that he looks forward to spending some much-needed time with family upon his retirement from his position as MPP.
“Given the realities of minority government and the possibility of an election at any time the opposition parties chose to defeat the government, a great deal more needs to be done to prepare for an early election,” Sorbara was quoted as saying.
According to the article, McGuinty has reiterated that he will not send voters to the polls in the summer, but that the elections will be “sooner rather than later.”
(With files from the Toronto Star)
Perhaps Mr. Sorbara would
Perhaps Mr. Sorbara would help convince the people of Vaughn not to vote Liberal in the upcoming by-election.
Great idea Jim Cauchon.
Great idea Jim Cauchon. Would work fantastic. However I believe the deal is already done that the Federal Govt will indeed have Sports betting. The Prov govt is saving face by giving us $250 Million and will indeed use a downscaled number of tracks ran by a Canadian casino slots operator who I won't name to run it for the OLG under their rules. We will survive but just remember even if we get sports betting and slots at the reduced number of tracks we will only get $250 Million. Wagering will still suffer as there is only so many dollars that is available to be spent. That amount is getting smaller every day. In th end the cost of social programs to the govt will exceed the revenue from gaming. A very sad situation indeed
In reply to Great idea Jim Cauchon. by Marv Chantler
I can just imagine Dalton
I can just imagine Dalton when he gets back to work MARV and sees the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.LOL .HE calls his friends not to bright Dwight and tall Paul and they advertise in the Toronto star for two candidates in the so far dateless election? Lol
My biggest fear is his public
My biggest fear is his public acknowledgement of the chance they are going to re visit this issue and maybe give us a glimmer of hope,is nothing more than a political ploy and just an early start to there lieing campaign
tricks for the upcoming by elections.I hope Im just paranoid.
In reply to My biggest fear is his public by mike
Mike, you are right on the
Mike, you are right on the money. Sorbara was a Liberal backroom boy before he went the elected route. He's going back to his roots with a mandate to get the party re-elected. He will say just about anything to take some of the heat off his party in the by-elections. At the end of the day he is just another politician - I trust absolutely nothing that he and those of his ilk have to say.
SOBRARA, MCGUINTY, GODFREY,
SOBRARA, MCGUINTY, GODFREY, DUNCAN,,READ CAREFULLY...IM GIVING YOU THE PERFECT OUT....there is one idea just sitting under all of the politicians noses and thats the unbeleivable power that single game sports betting holds should the House and Senate push Joe Comartin`s private member`s bill through.
and where it could work for the racetracks is a Test Market approach that would force all particiapnts to ONLY go the racetrack facilities to place these wagers...singles, parlays, teasers, futures....
maybe its a two year test drive allowing for the tracks to welcome a new type of bettor,,,upwardly mobile 19-49 through all its doors with fistfulls of sports betting money...and wouldnt that set the stage for some intriguing marketing opportunites...
and the two year program would give mcguinty and godfrey the time cover they need to reevaluate their stance on racing, weigh the pros and cons of this single game betting explosion and the transition from lameass Pro-line.
this is probably the only way to save the on-track day in a dozen or so locations in ontario.
jctoronto
If Anthony MacDonald can run
If Anthony MacDonald can run in one of the by-elections (especially out in the rural or semi-rural areas), I think he'll get in on a landslide.
Golly, now he has to drive, train some, travel around the B tracks and also to Mohawk, eat, give his wife a peck goodbye, read this website and sleep.
There is a very high - charged momentum behind him and I think that wherever he runs in one of the two by-elections, he will take a Liberal seat away from Dalton.
I mean, who else would have a chance? The horse people have suffered terribly, and they now have someone to take that seat in the bye-election; someone they can trust!!! I love the word TRUST !!!
If anyone ever deserved that seat, Anthony M does.and I may be reaching, but I think this future MPP will have more votes than the other two parties COMBINED.
Dear Dalton:I am a groom and
Dear Dalton:I am a groom and I work in Ontario but I have also met other grooms in each province of MY BELOVED CANADA. I understand you are on vacation this month,but I thought I would recommend a good book! It's called the REBELLION of UPPER and LOWER CANADA. IN 1834 ,lower Canada was led by LOUIS-JOSEPH PAPINEAU AND upper Canada by EDMUND BAILEY O/ CALLAGHAN.As a result of their grievances the leaders were hanged by the authorities..I REALISE you need some holidays from your very important job but we grooms and our trainers( working WITH HORSES 24/7 365 days a year) cannot stop because we love what we do and these animals perform as best they can ,mostly in winter and summer at racetracks in ONTARIO AND ALL PLACES IN CANADA ..for thousands of ONTARIANS and CANADIAN HORSEMEN AND HORSEWOMEN..The problem I have is that they( the beautiful animals cannot speak for themselves ) DID YOU READ THE BUDJET? It sounds like Mr. GODFREY wrote the section on the contract that your government broke with the slots at racetracks agreement, which said in part : AT THOSE RACETRACKS IN ONTARIO THAT HAVE LIVE RACING THERE WILL BE A SHARING OF TEN- TEN FIVE from all the money from the slots! When you ( or someone appointed MR.GODFREY a few years ago did you know he set out to privatize the OLG? MR. GODFREY SAID THAT WHEN HE LED THE PRESS CONFERENCE THIS SPRING BEFORE THE BUDGET PASSED ( with the help of the NDP) ..Please MR. McGinty join us as we celebrate THE HORSES RACING - INDUSTRY DAY MONDAY AUGUST 6 AT GRANDRIVER RACEWAY in beautiful ELORA ONTARIO..As you drive home to Toronto look at the rural countryside LOOK at the fields of corn hay and oats ,see all the trucks and horse trailers,talk to the farmers see how they are getting along ! DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DESTROY ALL THE WEANLINGS YEARLINGS THE SIRES AND BROODMARES THE RETIRED RACEHORSES and put 200,000 hard working ONTARIANS out of work? I am pleading with you to stop the SLAUGHTER !!!!!!!!!! YOURS SINCERELY..THOMAS GEORGE KELLY .STANDARDBRED CANADA groom
Looks like Sorbara is either
Looks like Sorbara is either lying or feels that he can convince DAD that he made a mistake.
Poor Dalton--he is in so much hot water that blue-bloods like Sorbara are jumping ship to get off before it goes down.
About a month ago, I saw Dalton and Jim Flaherty on TV and Flaherty was waving his finger in Dalton's face. Flaherty had issues with how Dalton was handling money. No matter what happens, what private sector company would want Dalton on their Board of Directors??
I sense that we are turning for home. Greg Sorbara is going to be in charge of all Liberals in the next election. If the SAR problem is not erased, Sorbara might as well stay home, as he won't have anything to do.
Mr. Sorbara has been one of
Mr. Sorbara has been one of the few Liberals to speak out in favour of the SAR and horse racing industry. I hope his reasons for retirement are indeed personal, and he was not "requested" by his party to resign.
Finally---some sensibility
Finally---some sensibility from the Liberal party. Let's hope it's not all doubletalk. A break in the clouds maybe?
Why do I get a sense that
Why do I get a sense that there are more MPP's who realize what a true mistake abandoning the SAR program truly is. Now if only one MPP were to join the opposition would not that raise some eyebrows. Surely at least one is thinking that the liberal ship is about to join the Titanic deep in the group of federal Liberal MP's that are no longer sitting in Ottawa. Be interesting to see how the liberals fair in Quebec.
In reply to Why do I get a sense that by Winning
Then why did the vote the
Then why did the vote the party line? that is not what they are elected to do.
Good for you Mr. Sorbara,
Good for you Mr. Sorbara, finally a Liberal MPP showing he does have a heart! Surely there are more in your caucus? From what we have seen so far the silence has been deafening, hopefully they were just waiting for some leadership? Step up to the plate and show your true faces because I know there are more. Sincere best wishes for your retirement.