Mixed reaction to McGuinty's promise of no tax hikes
By Bill Rea

As in the 2003 election, Dalton McGuinty is promising there will be no tax increases if his Liberals form the next government.

Unlike 2003, he's vowing to keep that promise this time.

The pledge was made last week as McGuinty addressed the party faithful, and local Liberals are confident he's going to be able to keep the promise.

The first budget that Finance Minister (and Vaughan - King - Aurora MPP) Greg Sorbara brought down in the spring of 2004 contained a health-care premium. The government explained at the time it was necessary because the former Progressive Conservative government of Ernie Eves had run up an substantial deficit that no one had apparently known about.

"We didn't know the extent to which the province was running into financial deficit," Sorbara commented at the time.

But Sorbara said last week that things are going to be different this time because the Grits have a more accurate picture of what the books look like.

"I think the difference is this time around we have a very good sense of the financial state of the province," he remarked, adding they have restored Ontario to financial health.

"I think that that will finally be resolved," commented John Gilbank, who will be running for the Liberals in York - Simcoe.

He pointed out the 2003 promise was based on reports from the governments of Eves and Mike Harris that the budget would be balanced. "When (McGuinty) got into office, he found in fact that he had been misled," Gilbank observed.

He added McGuinty faced the dilemma of either cutting back on health services or going back on his promise about taxes. "I think he made the right decision," he commented.

Gilbank agreed McGuinty made a mistake when he made such a promise without knowing the real situation.

"That was four years ago," Gilbank said, adding if that's the worst thing the government has done, the Liberals should have a very good campaign in the fall.

Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal candidate in Oak Ridges - Markham, agreed being in government gives McGuinty a better view from which to assess the books.

"He's now the premier," she remarked. "He knows exactly what the state of the finances are at this time."

Jaczek also suggested the media has overstated the issue, commenting the reception she's been getting at doors indicate people care a lot more about how their mother's hip surgery went.

But people running in the other parties aren't as quick to trust the premier.

"I don't believe any of his promises," declared Nancy Morrison, who's running for the New Democrats in York - Simcoe. "I can't believe any of his promises, so I say take it all with a grain of salt."

Morrison has an autistic child, and she charged the Liberals made promises to help such children, and have not delivered.

"So many other promises that he made in the last election," she added "He has disappointed Ontarians time and time and time again."

Phil Bannon, PC candidate in Oak Ridges - Markham, wasn't impressed either.

"It's a matter the residents of Ontario have to look at," he remarked. "(McGuinty) doesn't have the credibility that is much needed there."

"I don't make promises," he added. "I make commitments to my community."

"That's what the residents of the province want to hear," he said.

York North MPP Julia Munro, who's going to be running for the PCs in York - Simcoe, recalled the TV ads in the last election, with McGuinty promising not to raise taxes, along with his signing a taxpayer protection promise for the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation. "It does sound a bit hollow," she remarked.

Munro also pointed out there were other Liberal promises that have not been kept, and she didn't think that has impressed many voters.

"I just don't think that he has credibility in that regard," she remarked.

She also said promises like that, which are not kept, tend to increase cynicism, "not a healthy thing for any kind of democratic society, to have that sense of trust betrayed."