This time I mean it!

Premier Pinocchio, er, McGuinty says this time he's telling the truth when he promises not to raise taxes:

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty promised yesterday that he would not raise taxes if he is re-elected this fall and insisted he means it this time.

The Premier, who ran on a no new-taxes platform in the 2003 election and then introduced one of the largest income tax increases in provincial history, said Ontarians should believe him now "because I'm in charge."

Well, there is some rock-solid logic. Try that in your next debating class, kids!

Anyway, at least McGuinty has given up trying to convince us that the health tax was not a real tax, but rather merely a "premium":

"I didn't raise that health tax in order to raise my popularity. I did it because we needed to raise money for our health care system," he said. "Now we're on track to balance the budget for five consecutive years."

Well, at least he's stopped trying to insult us with the euphemism.

He also maintains that "The Conservative party is adamant about creating another multi-billion dollar hole in the budget. We've seen that movie before..."

Well golly gee, Dalton. You're talking about the Harris-Eves years. There's a new sheriff in town now. And anyway, we've seen your movie before too, buddy. It's not worth a second viewing, trust me. Not even if you throw in free popcorn and beer.

Personally, I'm not overly enthralled with any of the provincial party leaders but so far I haven't heard John Tory lie yet. He has promised to phase out the health tax. Would it destroy the economy, as Dalton maintains?

I'm willing to take that chance.

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Update: More Blogging Tories not quite taken in by the hype - Fool Me Once, Shame on You... Frank Parker likes that one too.

Doggerel - McGuinty the Pooh. (A lovely fairy tale).

Sandy - McGuinty Won't Raise Taxes! B.P.#1

The Beginning of the End of the PQ?

Last night's Quebec election results show some interesting shifts in the attitudes of the Quebec population.

1. In spite of an obviously disappointing performance, Jean Charest's Liberals have still managed to cling to power in what has ended up being a minority government.

2. The ADQ's Mario Dumont has clearly inspired a message of family values that is resonating more with voters than the old separation debate. And as Stephen Taylor notes, the results couldn't be better for the ADQ since it will give them an opportunity to learn and mature in opposition. An ADQ goverment at this point may have been too much too soon for their own good (and Quebec's).

3. The PQ is in third place and may very possibly be in danger of becoming irrelevant, which does not bode well for the BQ.

4. The strong federalist support suggests greater potential for seat pick-up by the CPC and to a lesser degree by the LPC.



All in all, the best possible outcome for those who wish Canada to stay intact.

But my loyal reader Gabby mentioned in my nuclear waste post (which I morphed into a politics debate), she is a bit leery about assuming that the the PQ is dead:

The one bright light is that the PQ has lost some support. The ROC should not cry "separatism is dead" though. It is simply undergoing a transformation.

Chantel Hebert suggests that although this likely means the end of Boisclair's leadership, the separatist movement will carry on:

Given a choice between pondering whether that reflects poorly on its core cause of sovereignty or on its leader's skills, the party will almost certainly zero in on the latter. It is ultimately easier for the PQ to keep on replacing its leaders than to give up on its dream of an independent Quebec.

I tend to agree that we should not let allow ourselves to become complacent.


BTW, congrats to ChuckerCanuk for a fascinating and entertaining "Live Blog" event last night! I certainly enjoyed the party.