Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty spoke on Monday as if he had already won Wednesday's Ontario election, and though polls suggest he may be right, he should think twice about coasting through the home stretch of the campaign when voters don't trust him, NDP Leader Howard Hampton said.
"Dalton McGuinty is trying to convince everyone that the election is over," Hampton said at a campaign stop in east-end Toronto.
"But those of us who have been around for a while know that the last two or three days of an election campaign are the most important … because that's when people actually firm up their decision."
Speaking at a rally in Cambridge, Ont., McGuinty sounded as if he were guaranteed to govern the province for another term.
"When we win these ridings, and when we win government, we're winning more than just government," he said.
But Hampton, who hammered McGuinty on his record of broken promises, said voters don't trust the premier and should therefore vote for the New Democrats.
"I think people know he will promise anything, he will say anything, he will tell you anything the day before the election to get the vote. But the day after the election his promises mean nothing," said Hampton, who suggested McGuinty's campaign promises will be impossible to pay for without raising taxes.
In the last election campaign in 2003, McGuinty pledged to not raise taxes, then brought in a "health premium," which he said he was forced to do because of a deficit left by the previous Conservative government.
Hampton made it clear the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Tory, don't pose much of a threat.
"People see that John Tory's campaign has been a disaster," Hampton said.
"His obsession with faith-based schools has given Dalton McGuinty basically a free ride by distracting people from the real issues."
Hampton also reiterated a pledge on the issue of home and long-term care, saying he would bring in a minimum standard of 3.5 hours a day of nursing care and personal care. He also suggested the premier has "neglected" seniors and as a result they spend most of their days "lying in their own waste."
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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.
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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.
