Display: Headlines Only | Summaries

Ontario Votes 2007 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.
Women make modest gains in Ont. legislature: Ontario rose to second place in Canada for the percentage of female representatives in its legislature after 28 won seats in Wednesday's provincial election.
Mixed results in high-profile races: More than the fate of the four main party leaders were decided in Ontario's election Wednesday night. Here are some of the more interesting races.
Liberals surge in Toronto, 905 ridings: Voters in the Greater Toronto Area opted for Liberal red in the Ontario election, as Dalton McGuinty's candidates won in 32 of the region's 44 ridings.
22 cabinet ministers re-elected, 1 defeated: Twenty-two members of Dalton McGuinty's previous cabinet in Ontario have won re-election and one has been defeated, according to results about five hours after polls closed Wednesday night.
Ottawa ridings maintain status quo: Ottawa's five Liberal ridings stayed Liberal, while its one Conservative riding stayed Conservative in Wednesday's Ontario election.
PC candidates split on religious funding: Nearly one-third of PC candidates contacted by the Canadian Press say they would vote against extending funding to private religious schools.
Hampton asks Ontario voters to hold Liberals 'accountable': NDP Leader Howard 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.
McGuinty says Liberals ran positive campaign: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said voters will respect his party for running a positive campaign that focused on issues, which he says \"stands in stark contrast to the hollow negativity\" coming from the opposition parties.
Former NDP premier voting Liberal: Former NDP premier Bob Rae says he'll be voting Liberal in Wednesday's Ontario election.
Toronto budget crisis not an issue in provincial campaign: With less than a day until the polls open for the Ontario election, many observers are wondering why issues affecting the city of Toronto weren't a bigger factor in the campaign.
Street racing becomes election issue: Following the weekend deaths of two women in an apparent street racing incident, Ontario's political leaders have vowed to get tough with those caught speeding on the province's roads.
McGuinty making bold predictions: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty is talking like the Liberals have already won Wednesday's Ontario election.
Hampton says voters shouldn't give Liberals 'blank cheque': Though polls suggest Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty is headed for victory in Wednesday's Ontario election, NDP Leader Howard Hampton says the race is not over yet.
Tory says he's not worried by polls: Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he isn't dismayed by polls suggesting his party is likely to finish second to the Liberals in the provincial election on Wednesday.
Nearly 3 million residents still don't know about referendum, says Elections Ontario: Elections Ontario has bungled its handling of a campaign to boost public awareness of a vote on electoral reform, members of a citizens' assembly charged Friday as the arm's-length agency administering the referendum ramps up its advertising blitz before Wednesday.
McGuinty says more needs to be done for autistic kids: Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty says more should be done to help autistic children, but won't commit to clearing a waiting list for treatment.
Tory pledges money for northern highways: Conservative Leader John Tory has repeated a pledge to spend about $300 million of gas tax to improve northern highways and roads.
Tory vows to fly around U.S. luring doctors back: Progressive Conservative leader John Tory has promised that if he is elected premier, he will personally fly to U.S. cities to convince Canadian doctors to come back to Ontario.
Hampton lashes out at Tory, media: Frustrated and furious, Ontario New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton lashed out at Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory and the media Thursday, accusing them of ignoring the real issues in the provincial election campaign.
Doctors, patients mull Tory's private clinic plan: A Tory campaign promise to cover private clinic surgeries with public money has stirred passionate debate in Ontario.
Muzzled by law, Hampton rues lack of info on referendum: Ontario voters aren't getting enough information to help them choose whether to vote for or against a new electoral system during the upcoming referendum, say NDP Leader Howard Hampton and electoral reform advocates.
Liberals will ban trans fats in schools, says McGuinty: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty says he'll make schools healthier if re-elected by banning trans fats in an effort to combat childhood obesity.
Greens, NDP snipe at each other: The two parties thought to be running in third and fourth place in the Ontario election took a short break from slamming the Liberals and Conservatives this week to direct pot shots at each other.
Conservatives would phase-out health tax: Ontario Conservative Leader John Tory tried to focus on a promise to end Ontario's health tax, but his plan to put the faith-based school funding to a free vote in the legislature continues to rile voters.
NDP attacks 'dishonest and deceitful,' says Ont. Green leader: 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.
Ontario peppers advance polls through grocery stores, golf clubs: Ontario hopes to boost voter turnout for the Oct. 10 election by offering more advance polls than ever, keeping them open longer and putting them in a greater variety of locations.
Tory says MPPs will get free vote on faith-based funding: Ontario Conservative Leader John Tory says if he's elected MPPs will be allowed a free vote in the legislature on the issue of extending faith-based funding across the province's education system.
Liberals promise to tackle poverty: A re-elected Liberal government would set hard targets for reducing poverty within a year of its new mandate, Dalton McGuinty vowed Monday at Toronto's food bank warehouse.
Ont. election voting controversial among First Nations: A group representing some Ontario First Nations communities is encouraging aboriginals to vote in the upcoming provincial election even though other First Nations leaders argue voting provincially will undermine aboriginal self-government.
Tory promises 500 more ankle bracelets for crime crackdown: Conservative Leader John Tory says he would spend $6 million to buy 500 electronic monitoring ankle bracelets, which use the global positioning system to track the person wearing the device.
McGuinty promises some seniors a land tax grant: The Liberals will provide Ontario's low- and middle-income seniors with a property tax grant of up to $500 a year if the party is re-elected, Dalton McGuinty says.
Hampton vows to protect workers from layoffs: Ontario NDP leader promises double the severance, longer layoff notice periods and mandatory job adjustment committees to help workers facing layoffs.
Liberal vow to buy books could hurt retailers: bookseller: A Liberal campaign promise to spend $120 million to buy new books for Ontario's schools could hurt the province's independent booksellers, as all the funds are earmarked for a particular bookstore chain, says one bookstore owner.
McGuinty tells Tory to come clean on cuts: Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty uses Ottawa stop to challenge rival John Tory to tell voters where he'll find $1.5 billion in cuts.
Hampton campaign takes aim at McGuinty and Tory: In an apparent change of tactics, NDP Leader Howard Hampton has started criticizing both of his main opponents.
Ottawa cancer patient refuses to shake McGuinty's hand: On a day when the Liberals wanted to tout their plans to hire more nurses and reduce surgical wait times, Dalton McGuinty got a pointed rebuff Wednesday from a terminally ill cancer patient who upbraided the premier for refusing to fund certain new cancer drugs.
Hampton woos women's votes: An extensive roster of female candidates means the Ontario New Democratic Party is better suited to get results for women and working families than its political rivals, party leader Howard Hampton said Wednesday.
Anti-poverty marchers head for Queen's Park: Thousands of people are expected to converge on the Ontario legislature today for an anti-poverty protest.
Students slam McGuinty for breaking tuition freeze promise: University students in Ottawa have joined the chorus of critics decrying Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty's broken 2003 election promises.
Tory promises $75M for autistic children: Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he would move quickly to wipe out a backlog of 1,000 autistic children in Ontario who are waiting for treatment if he is elected premier on Oct. 10.
Hints of minority government won't alter Liberals' course: McGuinty: While announcing a plan to restore GO Train service to Barrie, Ont., Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said his party won't change its campaign strategy just because they may be facing the possibility of a minority government on Oct. 10.
PC candidate opposes faith-based schools funding: Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory's controversial proposal to fund private faith-based schools has earned another prominent critic — one of his own caucus members.
Debate, march to highlight plight of Ontario's poor: Advocates for Ontario's poorest families have organized a debate and march this week to pressure the province's major parties to do more to reduce poverty if elected on Oct. 10.
Stop funding faith-based schools: Civil Liberties Association: The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says John Tory's plan to fund faith-based schools is wrong and will eventually put the public school system at risk.
McGuinty dismisses PC plan to sell beer at corner stores: Just because Quebec allows its corner stores to sell alcohol doesn't mean Ontario should follow suit, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Monday.
McGuinty promises breaks for women, families: Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty pledged Friday to phase in all-day kindergarten, a tax rebate for those who care for an aging parent in the parent's home and fertility monitoring for women over the age of 28 as part of their annual physical exam.
NDP offers green car makers boost in $16.8B platform: Ontario's auto sector will get $600 million in incentives to develop green automotive technology over the next five years if the New Democrat party is elected in the upcoming provincial election.
Ontario PC leader 'stirring the pot' in Caledonia, say Liberals: The Ontario Liberal Party has accused Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory of jeopardizing a 'fragile peace' in Caledonia, Ont., scene of an 18-month-old aboriginal land protest.
Tory vows to crack down on crimes during bail, probation: Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory continued to train his sights Thursday on Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty, accusing his main rival of allowing dangerous criminals to walk the streets.
Liberal campaign signs pop up uninvited in Ottawa: Liberal candidate Madeleine Meilleur's signs have been applied a little too liberally in the electoral district of Ottawa-Vanier, say some disgruntled residents.
McGuinty defends his record in Ontario leaders' debate: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty faced repeated attacks from his political opponents as he defended his past four years as premier of Ontario during Thursday night's leaders' debate.
Glitches crash Green party’s internet debate: Technical problems got in the way of Green party Leader Frank de Jong's piggyback participation in the Ontario leaders' debate Thursday night.
NDP promises $13B for health, education, social spending: The NDP is promising to invest a total of $13 billion in health, education and child and social services if it forms the next Ontario government.
Tory calls for publicly funded surgery at private clinics: Patients waiting for knee surgery should be allowed to have their operations at private clinics, as long as the procedure is paid for by the public purse, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said Wednesday.
Ontario party leaders to spar at televised debate: Leaders of Ontario's three biggest political parties will answer questions from the public and maybe throw verbal jabs at one another while trying to exude an aura of leadership during Thursday's 90-minute televised debate.
12 parties on ballot in Ontario: A dozen parties are registered for the Oct. 10 Ontario election, with a total of 597 candidates running for office.
More women running in 2007 Ontario campaign: There are 22 per cent more women running for a seat in the Ontario election this year than in 2003, said a group that advocates for more women in government.
Public buildings should have to serve Ont. produce: Tory: Ontario's Progressive Conservative leader, John Tory, wants to make sure prisoners, hospital patients, schoolchildren and bureaucrats all eat their broccoli — Ontario broccoli, that is.
McGuinty says Tory has lobbed 'grenade' into election campaign: Ontario PC Leader John Tory has touched off a political firestorm with a plan to fund religious schools that's woefully lacking in detail, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said Monday.
Ont. PC government wouldn't cover eye exams, physio: Don't look to the Progressive Conservatives to restore funding for eye exams, chiropractic care or physiotherapy after the Oct. 10 election, leader John Tory said Monday.
Faith-based schools debate a distraction tactic: Hampton: The Liberals and Progressive Conservatives are using the debate about faith-based schools as a smokescreen to distract voters from a lack of education funding for which both parties are to blame, New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton said Monday.
Conservatives pledge millions for Toronto's transit woes: Conservative Leader John Tory is promising hundreds of millions to help solve Toronto's transit problems.
McGuinty defends Liberal record on factory jobs: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty has rejected criticism that his government has done little to protect disappearing manufacturing jobs in Ontario.
Ont. NDP vows to force disclosure of toxins, pollutants: An NDP government would create an online database to inform Ontario residents of pollutants in their community and force manufacturers to list known or suspected toxins on product labels, party leader Howard Hampton said Friday.
Tory would sue aboriginal protesters who create disturbance: Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he would sue anyone at the site of an ongoing land-claim dispute who creates a disturbance resulting in a `huge public expense.'
Green party vows to cut income tax, boost fuel taxes: Ontario's income taxes would fall, while fuel and resource taxes would climb if the Green Party is elected, leader Frank de Jong promised as he unveiled the party's platform on Thursday.
Hampton vows to roll back MPP raises, hike minimum wage: A New Democrat government would slash the salaries of Ontario politicians and immediately boost the minimum wage to $10 an hour, party leader Howard Hampton said Thursday.
Tory promises $400M to treat doctor shortage: Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he would defer loan repayments for medical students and consider pay raises for family physicians to address Ontario's doctor shortage.
McGuinty repeats vow to freeze taxes: Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty has promised again to freeze taxes if he is re-elected premier of Ontario, even though he broke a pledge not to raise taxes that he signed during the last election campaign four years ago.
Green Party could win big in Ontario referendum: A new electoral system that Ontario will consider in a referendum this fall would improve all politics, says Green Party Leader Frank De Jong — and could also help elect his party's first ever MPPs.
Hampton vows to hike taxes for the wealthy, banks: New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton is pledging to phase out the health-care tax for some low- and middle-income taxpayers, and create a new tax bracket for the wealthy.
NDP promises more money for cities: NDP Leader Howard Hampton has come down strongly in favour of municipalities. He says an NDP government would provide more money for public transit.
It's official: Ontario election campaign kicks off: After weeks of unofficial campaigning by all of Ontario's major political parties, the campaign is finally official.
Elections Canada chief won't back down on veiled voting: Veiled women won't have to show their faces to vote in upcoming elections, but they may be asked for sworn statements to verify their identities, Canada's chief electoral officer said Monday.
Ont. disability advocate slams Liberal silence: The Liberals' record on making Ontario more accessible for people with disabilities is less than impressive, and they haven't indicated that things will change if they are re-elected, says the spokesman for a group that advocates for the disabled.
Ont. Liberals' full-day kindergarten vow draws support, concerns: Education experts and advocates say they support in principle the Liberals' promise to expand Ontario's kindergarten programs to a full day from a half-day, but are concerned about the potential cost, considering the funding troubles of existing full-day programs.
Toxins turn up in party leaders' blood tests: An environmental organization has released the findings of blood tests conducted on Ontario's three major political leaders — and each tested positive for toxins and pollutants.
Tory vows to crack down on aboriginal occupations if elected: As premier, John Tory says he would enforce a \"one law for all\" legal system and apply it to aboriginals who occupy lands as a form of protest against proposed developments.
Liberals promise $14.7 billion in new programs: Ontario Liberals have released their 2007 election platform. It promises $14.7 billion in new initiatives, mostly in education and health.
Creationism in science class would disqualify schools for funding: Conservatives: Schools that teach creationism in science class will not be eligible for public funding if it is extended to private religious schools, as Ontario Conservative Leader John Tory has proposed, a party spokeswoman says.
Ontario leaders to debate on Sept. 20: Ontario's three major political parties have agreed to a 90-minute leaders' debate at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.
Tory decries provincial testing for students: Provincial standardized tests aren't an accurate reflection of student scores, Conservative Leader John Tory says.
Opposition sets sights on McGuinty's leadership: Ontario's opposition parties believe they've found an issue on which to attack Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty: leadership.
Tory leader apologizes for 'U of Zero' comment: John Tory has apologized for calling an Ottawa university \"U of Zero\" in a conversation with a student in Toronto.
Ontario Tories kick off campaign one-week early: Two Tory-blue buses bearing an image of Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory's face rolled into Queen's Park Monday, marking his party's campaign launch a good week before the official start of the Ontario election campaign.
Ont. Liberals promise February stat holiday if elected: Ontarians will be treated to another long weekend every year if the Liberals are re-elected next month, the government said Monday.
Tory vows to boost spending $13B, cut taxes: A Progressive Conservative Ontario government would increase provincial spending by $13 billion over the next five years while cutting billions in taxes and spending to create jobs and stimulate the economy, leader John Tory said Thursday.
Ontario Liberals to pledge provincewide ban on pesticides: sources: Dalton McGuinty's Liberals will introduce a provincewide ban of household pesticides if they are re-elected in October, CBC News has learned.
NDP pledges property assessment freeze until home sale: An Ontario NDP government would freeze property tax assessments for individual homes on the market until the home is sold or undergoes major renovations, Howard Hampton said Wednesday.
Power plan calls for Ontario to spend $26.5B on nuclear plants: A new plan by Ontario's power authority calls for the provincial government to spend $26.5 billion on nuclear power plants to ensure the province's electricity supply until 2025.
Religious groups call for faith-based schools funding: A newly formed coalition of religious groups is calling on the Ontario government to fund all faith-based schools that meet provincial standards.
Ontario PC leader decries Liberals' hotel expenses: John Tory fired another pre-election salvo at the Liberal government on Monday over what the provincial Progressive Conservative leader called a waste of millions of dollars on meetings in hotel rooms.
Ontario Liberals pledge $700M for home care: The Liberal government is putting $700 million into Ontario's home-care system to give seniors more help with meals, shopping, snow shovelling and housekeeping.
Ontario parties greening wheels for campaign trail: The campaign trail in Ontario's upcoming election is turning green as the major political parties change the way they travel to reduce pollution.

ONTARIO VOTES 2007

Ontario Votes 2007 Headlines