The Liberals aren't about to change their campaign strategy just because they may be facing the possibility of a minority government on Oct. 10, leader Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
Reporters hounded McGuinty at a campaign stop in Barrie, Ont., about a recent poll that suggests there's been virtually no movement by the province's three major parties following last week's televised leaders' debate.
McGuinty said he's prepared to accept the will of Ontario voters.
"The electorate will do its own thing in its own course; I accept that, and that's fine by me," he said. "They have their responsibility to come to understand the issues and, of course, to get out and vote."
McGuinty insisted he has no plans to drastically alter his campaign strategy, even if polling numbers hint at a minority government.
"I will stay absolutely focused in a very intense way on the concerns that we share with Ontario families," he said. "We want to keep going in that direction."
Pressed about whether a minority government was acceptable, McGuinty replied: "I'm looking for as much support as I can possibly get, and I'll continue to work for that."
McGuinty was in Barrie to announce that part of the government's $17.5-billion transportation plan will pay for the re-opening of a commuter rail line between Toronto and Barrie.
McGuinty told a radio station that $250 million of the transportation plan — known as Move Ontario 2020 — will go toward renewing GO Train service to the city.
The Liberals say there will be four commuter trains a day running between Barrie and Toronto by the end of this year.
Barrie hasn't had service from GO, the Crown regional-transit agency, since the provincial government of the day cut it in 1993.
Two-thirds of the Liberal transportation plan — which calls for 95 per cent of its 52 construction projects to be completed by 2020 — will be paid for by the province.
The province has asked the federal government to kick in the remaining third, but the Liberals said they haven't received a response.
Corrections and Clarifications
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty did not say he will accept a minority government, as originally reported. He said he will accept the will of the voters. Sept. 26, 2007|1135 ET
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Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
