Ontario NDP Leader Howard Hampton's wrongful accusations that the Green party wants to privatize public services are a "sure sign" the party is worried about voters abandoning the NDP in favour of the Greens, says Green party Leader Frank de Jong.
"The Green Party of Ontario strongly supports publicly funded, publicly delivered and publicly accountable programs to benefit Ontario, including health care, education, public transit, environmental and social services," said de Jong in a statement issued Tuesday. "To suggest that we want to privatize anything is dishonest and deceitful."
De Jong said the party's platform calls for a combination of government regulation, incentives and market controls rather than privatization.
On Monday, Hampton accused the Green party of campaigning to privatize services, and said traditional NDP supporters oppose that.
Hampton was explaining why he is not afraid the NDP will lose votes to the Green party even though both parties are associated with environmental policies.
"We know what happens when you privatize things like electricity: hydro rates go through the roof and people on modest and low incomes get hurt," Hampton said while in Toronto's Davenport riding, where de Jong is running for a seat in the Oct. 10 election. "We know what happens when you privatize water: people die."
The Green party platform states the party will allow electricity rates to increase over the next three years until they reach their "true, unsubsidized cost." It specifies that it will create programs to help low-income renters and home owners and northern residents pay for that change. The party also says it will create a long-term supply management plan to encourage private investment in renewable energy projects. However, it makes no further mention of private involvement in energy.
The platform also states that the party will add 50 new water inspectors to the Ministry of Environment's compliance branch and reinstate government testing of municipal water.
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
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.
