With just one full day of campaigning left before the Ontario election, NDP Leader Howard Hampton spent Monday trying to chip away at the chances of a Liberal majority government.
At a campaign stop in Oshawa, Hampton disparaged Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty at every turn, while steadfastly refusing to even mention the Progressive Conservatives or leader John Tory.
But at a later stop in Belleville, Ont., Tory was back on Hampton's lips as he suggested the Conservatives aren't a good alternative to voting Liberal, as they have run a "disastrous" single-issue campaign.
Hampton warned voters that a majority mandate would give McGuinty free reign to spend taxpayer money as he sees fit, break promises and possibly raise taxes. Hampton pleaded with the public to keep McGuinty "accountable."
"Voters are telling us they don't believe Dalton McGuinty, they don't trust Dalton McGuinty and they don't want Dalton McGuinty to have a majority government because they know what happens," Hampton said after meeting with NDP candidate Sid Ryan at a Tim Horton's in Oshawa.
"A day after the election all the promises mean absolutely nothing."
The premier was speaking Monday as if he had already been re-elected, rousing a campaign rally with talk about "when" the Liberals win the election, though McGuinty said such boasts have been part of his speeches since the start of the campaign.
"I've got news for Dalton McGuinty: That kind of arrogance, that kind of taking the people for granted in Ontario doesn't wash," Hampton said.
At Hampton's first stop of the day at the Toronto campaign office of Pickering-Scarborough East candidate Andrea Moffat, he made it clear the Progressive Conservatives 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."
NDP pledge to help seniors
But at a later event in Oshawa, Hampton steered clear of any mentions about Tory or the Conservatives, preferring to use the bulk of his speaking time to discuss why people shouldn't vote Liberal.
Hampton spoke passionately about how he would do more to help seniors and long-term care homes at the event in Toronto, reiterating a pledge to bring in a minimum standard of 3.5 hours a day. But in Oshawa, he wouldn't respond to assertions Tory made that the Conservatives are the most concerned about that issue.
"I think Dalton McGuinty has ignored seniors for the last four years," he responded.
And to a question about the Conservatives and electoral reform, Hampton replied: "This issue is about Dalton McGuinty. This is about a Dalton McGuinty who wants to avoid the issues."
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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.
