Weighing Ontario’s choices
Re Pick your premier, May 9 Kudos for providing a clear analysis of the platforms of the four provincial parties. It’s hard to glean any real information from the bluster we sometimes hear. Now people can take a look at the experience these leaders have and what they are going to focus on if elected.
Three of the parties have viable platforms but the Tories do not seem to be able to articulate any persuasive actions they will take to improve people’s lives.
I support a carbon tax in order to reduce our emissions. I do not need a tax cut but I do need to know that those who are struggling can get the support they need in child care, pharmacare and decent wages. And reopening the sex-education curriculum is like taking us back to the age of dinosaurs. Bonnie Bacvar, North York I am watching in horror and disbelief as Ontario careens towards the same dismal, dangerous and disgraceful politics of the U.S. We know what a horrific turn toward isolationist, racist, anti-environmental and bullying strategies the U.S. has taken under the so-called presidency of an unbalanced and dangerous man.
Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne is the only choice. She may not be great, but I would vote for absolutely anyone over PC Leader Doug Ford.
Ford is a known bully and is both arrogant and ignorant. He knows nothing of provincial politics. He will run this province in a haphazard and self-aggrandizing manner, which will do nothing for the people, the environment or the economy.
I, for one, plan on getting involved and knocking on doors to spread the word that to elect Ford is to emulate the shocking and frightening politics of the U.S. R. Walton, Guelph, Ont. For the first time in 45 years I find myself intending to vote for the NDP, as the least-objectionable of the major parties. I don’t agree with their policies but figure they can do the least amount of damage in power. James Steward, Toronto Health care has always been a hot topic during election time. Do our poli- ticians really hear the people of Ontario? We have an election in just four weeks and I’m still not convinced any of them will improve our health-care system.
The Liberals have destroyed our onceenvious health care. I would like to know why my loved one has to sit on a waiting list for six to 12 months, hoping not to die, because our Liberal government will only fund a certain number of transaortic valve insertions per year?
Our amazing doctors have their hands tied by this government. The candidate who can promise my loved one his procedure within a month wins my vote. Debbie Burden, Thornhill The current Ontario sex-education curriculum is middle of the pack of provincial sex-ed curriculums. Why is this a problem for Doug Ford? Scott Heaslip, Stouffville Re Wynne touts hiring of 3,500 new nurses, May 10 Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne may be praying that front-line health-care providers will nurse her back to political health, but the fact remains that if she could have hired more nurses, she would have done it by now. Sorry Kathleen, too little, too late. Brian Weller, Wasaga Beach, Ont. Ontario has gone through this before: tax cuts and a promise of more efficient government. That PC party closed hospitals, laid off nurses, broke up Ontario Hydro, leased Hwy. 407 for 99 years to cover the deficit and delayed transit improvement for years.
Where is the policy to improve the daily lives of the little people? Allan McPherson, Newmarket The adage that says you should vote for the candidate you think will do the least harm is not so easy when the choice is between Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne and PC Leader Doug Ford.
Big spender Wynne throws our tax money around as if it grows on trees.
Flip-flop Ford takes his own china shop with him wherever he goes.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is looking more like a winner every day, but she should tread carefully and remember what happened to (former NDP premier) Bob Rae. William Bedford, Newmarket I just got wind about the provincial election, not that it really matters up here in Kirkland Lake. Our riding has been changed again, so that Toronto can have an MPP on practically every street corner.
My riding now is Timiskaming-Cochrane, covering an area of 39,864 square kilometres. There are no advance polls in Kirkland Lake yet. The closest one is in New Liskeard, an hour or so to the south. On the same day PC Leader Doug Ford told us he would spend $5 billion to expand Toronto’s subway system, we’re wondering if we can even have a transit bus up here in Kirkland Lake. But hey, who cares about Northern Ontario? Certainly not Ford. Certainly not Elections Ontario.
The good news is I can take it easy on Election Day and not worry about getting to the polls. Toronto will decide the election with its ridings at every street corner. The rest of us can just stay home. Jeff Wilkinson, Kirkland Lake, Ont. Re We need public supports, services for all, Opinion, May 8 Thank you for the reminder of the value of public services paid for by tax dollars. This government is truly a progressive one, spending public dollars for the benefits of all Ontarians.
I am glad that Kathleen Wynne’s government boosted the minimum wage, which is essentially transferring some of the wealth from businesses to Ontarians who need it most. Finally, we have a leader who is willing to implement policies that benefit all Ontarians: lower hydro fees, free drug coverage for more Ontarians, more public child care.
We can afford all these services and more if business is made to pay its fair share. We have been giving too much to business in tax cuts and it is time we asked them to either create the jobs they promised or give back the tax cuts. Salmon Lee, Mississauga Send email to lettertoed@thestar.ca; via
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