Debate highlights triumphs, weaknesses
Re Leaders lock horns in the home stretch, May 28 After listening to the debate on Sunday night, Premier Kathleen Wynne stood high above the others with a platform, a progressive record, calm demeanour and respect for her opponents. Fifteen years of Liberal government yielded mistakes, as would any government of that duration. Despite these, she continues to demonstrate a readiness to continue on perhaps the most progressive agenda of any provincial government in Ontario’s history. Liking her is a personal choice, of course, but she has little to be sorry for with all she has begun to do regarding early childhood education, senior care, road and bridges infrastructure, climate change, increased minimum wage, free pharmacare for youth and others, free tuition for many of those who would be financially prohibited from attending college or university and so much more. Of course we have to pay for this through our taxes. Things aren’t free. The NDP knows this but aren’t forthcoming as to where the money is coming from to pay for their socialist ideological agenda wherein everything is free. Ontario deserves a premier with vision, a plan, a respon- sible fiscal sense, persistence in fighting through often rough water and the ability to work with the federal and other provincial governments. Wynne is the best choice for the job. Peggie Fitzpatrick, Bracebridge All three leaders came to play on Sunday evening, but Kathleen Wynne and Andrea Horwath came to play chess and Doug Ford was content playing a simple game of checkers. He wants to go back to a simpler time, when floods racing through the Baltimore area or droughts in the Southwest or Lyme disease migrating into Canada have no impact on a decision to lower gas prices and get people driving more. Ron Charach, Toronto It is disappointing and negligent on the part of Elections Ontario not to hold leadership candidates to account regarding a fully costed platform prior to voting. Also, candidates at all levels should be required to be present at community debates and to speak to the issues. To not do so promotes blind allegiance to parties. Diane Sullivan, Toronto