Ford’s promises

Now consider what the Ford PCs refer to as their platform. It’s worth noting that they have been back and forth on whether they would provide a costed platform, eventually offering up a list of promises made so far, with no overall context and many areas of government simply ignored. Social services? Nothing. Fighting climate change? Nothing. There’s a cut in taxes for the middle income bracket and businesses, and a reduction in gas prices by 10 cents per litre. They also promise hundreds of millions of dollars for various infrastructure projects. Ford would “fire the $6million man” running Hydro One and lower hydro bills by 12 per cent.

The plan estimates how much each commitment is expected to cost, but makes no mention of the at least $6 billion of “efficiencies” Ford has previously said a PC government would find. How would Ford pay for his billions in promises while also cutting $6 billion, including $2.4 billion from health?

Ford’s promise list also doesn’t address deficit. But one Western University economist who has tracked all three party pledges forecasts the Ford PCs would post a deficit of $5.8 billion to $12.7 billion by 2020, higher than forecast for either the Liberals or the NDP. This is Ford’s idea of fiscal responsibility?

The NDP have their own foibles. Late in the campaign, Horwath said her government would not legislate an end to public service strikes. Really? Never? So the York University strike now ruining the summer for thousands of students could go on indefinitely? Future school strikes could cancel academic years and the government would stand by? Perhaps Horwath wanted to reappeal to her base with this last-minute declaration, but she didn’t help herself with Ontarians who want a government focused on pragmatic problemsolving as opposed to inflexible ideology.