The two underdogs of the Ontario election race took a short break from slamming the Liberals and Conservatives this week to direct pot shots at each other.
Green party Leader Frank de Jong sent out a terse news release Tuesday attacking the New Democrats for misleading voters by suggesting he supports privatized health care.
It followed comments by NDP Leader Howard Hampton, who indicated Monday he's not concerned about losing votes to the Greens.
Hampton said the two parties have little in common, saying the Greens are campaigning for privatization — including hospitals built through public-private partnerships, or P3s — and suggested environmentalists tend to align themselves with the NDP.
De Jong said the misinformation from Hampton and his canvassers indicates the NDP is in fact worried about losing votes to the up-and-coming fourth party.
He in turn questioned the NDP's lack of a comprehensive platform.
"We are totally against P3 hospitals," de Jong said.
"We were up in Brampton decrying the Liberals with its alternative financing, which is, of course, a euphemism for P3s, so we've been clear about that in our platform."
He suggested the New Democrats may have been confused by a Green plan to give lower-income residents up to $1,000 a year within five years that they can put towards dental care, homeopathy, chiropractic services or midwifery.
"[It's] so people can direct their health spending, but it's all publicly funded, of course," he said.
De Jong said the party endorses tax shifting as a means of preventing diseases and easing the health-care cost burden, but that it in no way implies privatizing services.
"When smog costs Ontario $10 billion a year and $6.6 billion is on our health care and we're paying for health care out of our income taxes, then the Green party says shift that $6.6 billion onto electricity costs and transportation costs," he said.
"Then people will have the incentive to go to renewables and conservation and our health care costs will drop and we'll be able to get rid of the [Premier Dalton] McGuinty surcharge."
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.
