Wynne’s deficit gamble has backfired

“Free” child care. “Free” dental care. “Free” prescription drugs.

These have been promised to voters in varying degrees by all three major political parties.

But Ontarians know these things aren’t really free.

During the second week of this dramatic election campaign, a new poll by Ipsos Public Affairs finds that seven out of 10 Ontarians would prefer the provincial government cut spending to balance the budget, rather than continuing to run deficits or raise taxes.

The poll, conducted for Global News, shows that a majority of supporters of every party want spending cuts.

It’s no surprise that 89 per cent of Conservative supporters want spending cuts.

But so do 59 per cent of New Democratic supporters and 52 per cent of Liberal supporters, questioned online between May 11 and 14.

“That’s a consensus,” said Sean Simpson, Ipsos vice-president, at a presentation he gave in Kitchener Thursday.

Support for spending cuts is highest in southwest Ontario (which includes Waterloo Region) and also the vote-rich 905 area surrounding Toronto.

Simpson thinks this underlying concern about deficits is part of the reason Premier Kathleen Wynne and her Liberal party are faring so poorly in opinion polls right now.

Wynne’s Liberal government brought in a modest budget surplus last year, after nine years of deficits. But this year, the Liberals announced a return to red ink for the next six years.

That was a terrible mistake. It made us nervous. Those of us who manage money at home and work know that in a time of strong economic growth, you shouldn’t be running deficits. It puts you in a tight spot when times get tough.

Eighty eight per cent of Progressive Conservative supporters, 76 per cent of Liberal and 82 per cent of New Democratic Party supporters agree that the province should be balancing the budget when we aren’t in a recession, Ipsos found.

Wynne’s tactic “backfired spectacularly,” Simpson said.

This helps explain why Conservative Leader Doug Ford resonates with people when he talks about getting rid of wasteful government spending.

New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath is promising some big spending — including thousands more hospital beds; better care for seniors in homes; dental and pharmacare.

But all the polls show that her popularity and that of her party have risen sharply. The Ipsos poll showed an 11-point rise in support for her New Democrats, in just one week.

She is the challenger to Ford now.

Simpson said although people of all political stripes are uncomfortable with deficits during good economic times, it’s not a top-ofmind issue for most Liberals and New Democrats.

As Liberal fortunes slump, Horwath is “the only choice for people who want change, but loathe the idea of a Ford-led government,” he said.

Meanwhile, whenever the Liberals try to portray Horwath as an irresponsible tax-andspender, voters just laugh. Glass houses, you know. Earlier, Wynne described the choice in front of Ontarians June 7 as a “stark contrast” between her vision and Ford’s.

It still is a stark contrast. But it’s not between Wynne and Ford anymore. It’s between Horwath and Ford.