McGuinty absent from latest campaign ad

[canada-man]

TORONTO — Premier Dalton McGuinty's image is noticeably absent in the latest campaign advertisement from Ontario's governing Liberals.

The 60-second TV spot, which will start airing tonight, features McGuinty's voice, although he's never identified.

The ad shows images of factory workers, firefighters and farmers as the unseen McGuinty asks what defines Ontario, and then answers with "the way we work together."

Liberal campaign co-chair Greg Sorbara denies the Liberals are trying to downplay McGuinty's image before the Oct. 6 election.

Sorbara says after eight years in office, the premier doesn't have to identify himself to Ontario voters.

The Liberals also say they aren't going to get into a bidding war with the Progressive Conservatives, who are promising to lower taxes and remove the harmonized sales tax from hydro and home heating bills.

http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110530/110530_mcguinty_ad/20110530/?hub=CP24Home

 

[Anynym]

According to a survey conducted (apparently) by CFTO, Sorbara is wrong about McGuinty's image being recognizable.

But it is clear that the Liberals are running away from their record of tax increases over the last seven years.

Maybe McGuinty will promise to not raise taxes. Maybe this time he'll put it in writing. Except that he's done that before and just about the first thing he's done after getting elected is to raise taxes. Again and again and again.

 

[moviefan]

Maybe McGuinty will promise to not raise taxes. Maybe this time he'll put it in writing. Except that he's done that before and just about the first thing he's done after getting elected is to raise taxes. Again and again and again.

I've probably spent too much time listening to oldjones, but I think McGuinty should place himself firmly on the left and say, yes, he is going to continue investing in public services and that probably will mean higher taxes.

The gimmicks to try to position himself as a soft conservative aren't working any better for Dalton than they did last year for George Smitherman. The so-called "wage freeze" was a bust and the rebates on the energy bills aren't even getting noticed (according to a recent column by Martin Regg Cohn in the Star).

Clearly distinguishing himself as the candidate of the left may be McGuinty's best hope. Guys like me wouldn't vote for him, but I'm not voting for him in any event, so that shouldn't matter.

 

[moviefan]

By the way, am I the only one who think the ad bites?:

http://www.thestar.com/videozone/999515--new-liberal-tv-ad

Sorry, but I don't get it.

 

[Possum Trot]

By the way, am I the only one who think the ad bites?:

http://www.thestar.com/videozone/999515--new-liberal-tv-ad

Sorry, but I don't get it.

I think the Liberals are taking credit for Ontario believe it or not. Either that or they are trying to tell everyone how great things are without talking about how we are now supported by Alberta and have one of the worst economic performances of any province over the last 3 years.

While its too early to say that the party is abandoning McQuinty they may be trying the hat on for size. Having a scapegoat is not unheard of in politics. or for the Liberals - one only needs to looks at Campbell in BC.

 

[moviefan]

Apparently, the ads are supposed to show how Dalton speaks to the better angels of our nature:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...Feeds: RSS/Atom&utm_source=Adam Radwanski&utm

Whatever.

 

[fuji]

I've probably spent too much time listening to oldjones, but I think McGuinty should place himself firmly on the left and say, yes, he is going to continue investing in public services and that probably will mean higher taxes.

Historically the Liberal party has stood for fiscal conservatism. I for one hope that doesn't change.

I think the higher taxes had something to do with "orphaned debt". That little footnote that Eves tried to sweep under the carpet and hope that Ontarians wouldn't notice.

 

[moviefan]

Historically the Liberal party has stood for fiscal conservatism. I for one hope that doesn't change.

I think the higher taxes had something to do with "orphaned debt". That little footnote that Eves tried to sweep under the carpet and hope that Ontarians wouldn't notice.

Another conspiracy theory that is off-base. Where do I start with this one?

To begin with, it is called stranded debt. That debt load was initially on Ontario Hydro's books and was created during the massive nuclear expansion in the 1980s, particularly the Darlington expansion (http://www.thestar.com/business/article/845058). Much of the run-up in the costs at Darlington occurred when David Peterson's Liberals were in power:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlington_Nuclear_Generating_Station

When Ontario Hydro was broken up, a debt retirement charge was created to pay off the stranded debt from the 1980s. The debt retirement charge was actually quite responsible, and was scheduled to pay off the stranded debt by next year. It is only recently that questions have emerged about the use of the revenues from the debt retirement charge, and the questions centre on the activities of the McGuinty government:

http://images.halinet.on.ca/OakvilleImages/Images/OI002284037pf_0008.pdf

Finally, the taxes that are paid into general revenue (income taxes, sales taxes, etc.) cover the province's operating costs and don't go toward the stranded debt. So blaming the stranded debt for McGuinty's tax increases is completely wrong.

As for McGuinty's Liberals standing for "fiscal conservatism," we'll have plenty of time to debate that assertion during Dalton's final days in the run-up to Oct. 6.

 

[GPIDEAL]

According to a survey conducted (apparently) by CFTO, Sorbara is wrong about McGuinty's image being recognizable.

But it is clear that the Liberals are running away from their record of tax increases over the last seven years.

Maybe McGuinty will promise to not raise taxes. Maybe this time he'll put it in writing. Except that he's done that before and just about the first thing he's done after getting elected is to raise taxes. Again and again and again.

The word Fiberal comes to mind.

 

[GPIDEAL]

To begin with, it is called stranded debt. That debt load was initially on Ontario Hydro's books and was created during the massive nuclear expansion in the 1980s, particularly the Darlington expansion (http://www.thestar.com/business/article/845058). Much of the run-up in the costs at Darlington occurred when David Peterson's Liberals were in power:
Finally, the taxes that are paid into general revenue (income taxes, sales taxes, etc.) cover the province's operating costs and don't go toward the stranded debt. So blaming the stranded debt for McGuinty's tax increases is completely wrong.

Well, at least we can still blame it on Liberals if not McGuinty per se.

 

[oldjones]

Well, at least we can still blame it on Liberals if not McGuinty per se.

Well not really, as Darligton and the other Hydro debt-generators were conceived, designed and commissioned by earlier Tory governments. And our most recent Tory government(s?—not sure if Ernie counts) can hardly be creditted with getting the matter settled and dealt witrh or we wouldn't be talking about it now, would we?

If you see politics as a blame-game, why worry about facts or history, blame who you want. But the matter at hand for grownups is making the province a better place.

 

[moviefan]

If you see politics as a blame-game, why worry about facts or history, blame who you want.

Actually, it was Fuji who brought up the stranded debt. I actually suggested that Dalton's only hope in addressing the pocketbook issues that will be central in this fall's election may be to listen to your advice on taxes (see post #3).

 

[Anynym]

When Ontario Hydro was broken up, a debt retirement charge was created to pay off the stranded debt from the 1980s. The debt retirement charge was actually quite responsible, and was scheduled to pay off the stranded debt by next year. It is only recently that questions have emerged about the use of the revenues from the debt retirement charge, and the questions centre on the activities of the McGuinty government:

What you say is true, however: while it was originally scheduled to be paid off by 2012, in fact the full amount of the debt has already been collected - and still the Liberals have extended the charge through 2018.

As part of Changebook, the Progressive Conservatives have promised to relieve this burden from Ontario ratepayers.

 

[moviefan]

What you say is true, however: while it was originally scheduled to be paid off by 2012, in fact the full amount of the debt has already been collected - and still the Liberals have extended the charge through 2018.

As part of Changebook, the Progressive Conservatives have promised to relieve this burden from Ontario ratepayers.

Thanks. I don't pretend to be an expert on the issue -- I just know more about it than Fuji apparently does.

 

[moviefan]

The Toronto Star reported today (http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...-mcguinty-remains-highly-unpopular-poll-shows) that Liberal insiders say McGuinty was kept out of the ads because he's too toxic:

The Liberals, in office since 2003, effectively started doing just that last week with a new blitz of TV ads narrated by McGuinty, who is neither identified nor shown in the spots.

Two party insiders told the Star that was an intentional omission because the Liberals are aware the premier could be a polarizing figure due to his implementation of the 13 per cent harmonized sales tax and continuing voter anguish over rising energy bills.

Unfortunately, without Dalton, you're left with political ads that make no sense.

No wonder Dalton's Liberals are in so much trouble.