Don’t count out Kathleen Wynne

THE SPECTATOR’S VIEW

As Canada’s most unpopular provincial premier and leader of a Liberal party stuck in the polling basement, Kathleen Wynne could be excused for clearing out her office and riding into the sunset.

With the next provincial election just over a year away and no sign of a Liberal recovery, some members of her own party have whispered she should resign now — and no one could blame her if she did.

The unkindest cut of all came from Liberal stalwart and former provincial finance minister Greg Sorbara, who recently told a TV Ontario interviewer that it’s “extremely unlikely” the Liberals can win again with her at the helm and that Wynne should ask herself “whether … it’s better to step down.” With Liberal friends like that, who needs the Tories? But last week Wynne cleared the air. She’s staying on to fight the next election campaign, she insisted. And she has every intention to triumph.

It was an impressive move befitting of a leader and showed she has the courage of her convictions.

Any Liberal contemplating a palace coup should take note. These are qualities that inspire confidence in voters.

Far from being the Liberals’ biggest problem, Wynne is an asset.

Ontarians are outraged by soaring hydro rates and blame the government. Unaffordable housing prices in much of southern Ontario are also a nagging worry.

But earlier this year, Wynne announced relief on hydro bills. And last week she released a 16-point plan to cool the overheated housing market.

In short, she’s not sitting on her hands and watching the Liberal ship go down. She’s working the pumps.

Moreover, provincial unemployment has dropped in recent months while Ontario’s economic growth is expected to be the best in the nation this year. That should give Wynne a boost.

The Liberals need to remind themselves they’ve been in office 14 years. That’s certainly long enough for some voters to write a long list of grievances that have nothing to do with Wynne.

But while Wynne’s popular support now hovers around a lowly 11 per cent, she has shown an uncanny ability to stage a comeback.

Despite trailing in the polls before the 2014 vote, she won the election and restored the Liberals’ majority in the legislature. She is a strong campaigner.

If she lacks the charisma of a Justin Trudeau — and most Canadian politicians do — Wynne projects an intelligent, caring and calm persona.

Her main opponents in the coming election are New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath, whom she has beaten once before, and Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown, who after two years in his party’s top job remains a largely unknown and somewhat questionable commodity.

Despite all this, Wynne’s make-or-break moment could come with this week’s budget.

If her popularity doesn’t surge after that, her party may feel inclined to give her the push.

But this thought should provide the final reality check for the Liberals: There is no obvious or more appealing heir-apparent to Wynne waiting in the wings.

The premier has shown her resolve. Her party should show its loyalty.